Land acknowledgements honor a place’s Indi genous people – past and present – and recognize the history that brought u s to where we are today. The practice of incorporating land acknowledgement s into presentations and programs has become increasingly popular and gener ated debate about their effectiveness.
The Office of Diversity\, Equi ty and Inclusion in partnership with the Department of Neuroscience are hos ting Dr. Pamela Begay\, Ph.D.\, the Director of the Buder Center of Indigen ous Studies at Washington University\, and Eric Pinto\, MSW\, the Buder Cen ter Community Projects Coordinator\, to share the purpose and importance of land acknowledgments and considerations for incorporating the practice wit h integrity. The session will include discussion about what individuals and groups can do beyond land acknowledgment to ensure the effectiveness of th e practice and deepen commitment to inclusion for Indigenous people in our community.
Pamela L. Begay’s work focuses on American Indian tribes\, and her research interests include cultural identity and issues su rrounding Native women. Her long-term goal is to teach and mentor the next generation of social workers and maintain her private clinical practice.
Since joining the Brown School in 2022\, Begay chairs the American Indi an/Alaska Native Concentration and serves as a faculty associate for the Bu der Center for American Indian Studies. She has taught undergraduate and gr aduate-level social work courses and maintains a private practice focusing on treating trauma while infusing psychodynamic therapy.
She is the s enior editor for the Journal of Indigenous Research and an editorial board member of the Clinical Social Work Journal.
E ric Pinto (Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians\, Zuni)\, MSW\, earned his B S in Health Management from Southeast Missouri State University in 2010 and is a 2020 Buder Scholar alumnus from the Brown School with a concentration in American Indian/Alaskan Native. Prior to receiving his MSW\, Eric was a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist for nine years at two Gold’ s Gym locations in the St. Louis area. During his time at the Brown School\ , he gained experience in program development\, assessment\, and supporting the St. Louis Zoo in developing and sustaining long-term relationships wit h tribal communities. After graduating in the summer of 2020\, Eric began w orking for the Buder Center as Project Coordinator where he oversaw develop ment and production of the Digital Indigenous Storytelling Project. Current ly\, Eric is the Coordinator of Community Projects where he provides knowle dge\, opportunities\, connection and support to the local Indigenous commun ity\, the larger St. Louis community\, and the Buder Scholars.