The Kid Report: On This Land

The story "On This Land"—about honoring Native land—appears in this week's issue of TIME for Kids. Nathan Whittinghill attends middle school in the Mukilteo School District, in Washington State. Here, he writes about what land acknowledgement means to him and what people can do to support Native communities.

Land acknowledgement is done in support of Native communities. I go to Voyager Middle School, in Everett, Washington. We have a land acknowledgement at the beginning of class. It’s a good first step toward honoring Native people. But if you really want to help, you can donate time and money. For example, the Native American Heritage Association provides food, clothing, and heating assistance. It helps people living on reservations in South Dakota and Wyoming. The American Indian College Fund gives financial assistance to Native students. The Seattle Indian Health Board hosts fundraisers to support Indigenous people here in the Puget Sound area. Acknowledging Native people requires more than a statement. It requires action.