Acknowledging the Act: Analyzing Indigenous Land Acknowledgements Through the Lens of Speech Act Theory and Performativity

Acknowledging the Act: Analyzing Indigenous Land Acknowledgements Through the Lens of Speech Act Theory and Performativity

Julia DiLaura

The recent trend of reading Indigenous land acknowledgements before events has led many Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to examine its action. By using J.L. Austin’s perspective on speech act theory and studies on performativity, this paper will analyze Indigenous land acknowledgements to understand what speech acts the statements are creating. The land acknowledgements from five Michigan universities and colleges were chosen for linguistic analysis. Additionally, other sources like news articles and paperwork from university organizations were also examined for context and evidence. By reading a land acknowledgement, the institution is performing the act of an apology, but the apology is questioned as to its sincerity and effectiveness. Another act performed is the act of purification of guilt for uncritical non-Indigenous people as they might believe that colonization has ended and can feel comfortable on land that has been taken through coercion or outright stolen. This leads many to question how effective land acknowledgements are for Indigenous recognition and what narratives are being centered.