Land acknowledgements — the recognition that Indigenous people were the original inhabitants of American land — have become more common among academics, nonprofits, companies, celebrities and even in social media bios.

Why it matters: These efforts can fail to realize their desired impact if they aren't paired with more concrete action to support Indigenous communities, Indigenous advocates say.

• "It has to be this reminder of having ongoing action — of being a steward, continuing to do things, of making space, making [systemic] change," Lydia Jennings, a citizen of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, told Axios.

Zoom in: San Francisco adopted a land acknowledgment resolution in 2021 after the American Indian Cultural District (AICD) wrote to city officials with a list of demands that included recognizing the Ramaytush Ohlone, the original peoples of the Peninsula, at the start of all city meetings.

• The push, led by Ramaytush Ohlone AICD board member Gregg Castro, was part of a broader effort in the Bay to center long-overlooked Indigenous history.
• Local institutions like the San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco Arts Commission and UCSF have all adopted similar land acknowledgments in recent years.

Yes, but: The phrasing of a land acknowledgement can sometimes put Indigenous people in the context of history, rather than in the present, said Michaela Madrid, the program director at Native Governance Center and a citizen of Lower Brule Sioux Tribe. This can fuel harmful stereotypes.

• "As a Native person, it can feel kind of awkward during these land acknowledgments," Madrid said. "We know that this is our land and that it was stolen."
• "It does serve as a powerful reminder that Native folks are still here," Madrid added. "But it should be a reminder that our contemporary needs and issues should also be considered."

Go deeper

The land that comprises the Bay Area belongs to the Ramaytush Ohlone, who totaled around 1,500 people across 10 tribal groups prior to Spanish invasion.

• One such tribe was the Yelamu, who were the original people of what is now San Francisco County. They have no living descendants.

The big picture: In 1769, the Spanish embarked on their quest to conquer what is now California. The diseases they brought over led to high death rates among Indigenous people.

• Spanish missionaries also set up missions across California as part of an effort to convert Indigenous people.
• This included forcing them to assimilate to European culture, eradicating their own traditions and subjecting them to forced labor and beatings. Many were imprisoned for decades.

State of play: While only one lineage of the Ramaytush Ohlone people is known to have produced descendants who are alive today, their descendants continue to work to preserve their cultural knowledge and revitalize their language.

• Many of the Ramaytush Ohlone people's current projects involve ecological restoration and art exhibitions. They also partnered with the National Park Service to create an online elementary curriculum called Living with the Land.

Share this history

The Golden State Valkyries have hired Natalie Nakase as their first head coach.

Why it matters: Nakase, a current assistant coach with the Las Vegas Aces, will lead the Bay Area's highly anticipated WNBA team as they prepare to begin play in 2025.

What they're saying: Nakase, who has over 16 years of professional basketball coaching experience, called the news "a lifelong dream come true" in a press release yesterday.

• "We will strive to improve, compete, and ultimately bring home a championship for our fans and this organization," the Los Angeles native said.
• Valkyries general manager Ohemaa Nyanin noted that Nakase "exemplifies every character trait in what we were looking for in a head coach."

State of play: Nakase comes to the Valkyries with a strong record.

• As first assistant coach, she helped steer the Aces to back-to-back WNBA Championships in 2022 and 2023.

Her background

I had the pleasure of catching up with New York Times San Francisco bureau chief Heather Knight this week to launch Axios SF's new interview series, Local Motion.

• It's a chance to ride beautiful historic streetcars while interviewing local icons.

Catch up quick: Knight covered SF for more than two decades at the San Francisco Chronicle and knows more about transit than anyone I know.

• In 2018, she and Chronicle columnist Peter Hartlaub attempted to ride every Muni line, including buses, trains, streetcars and cable cars, all in one day.

Knight now reps the Bay to the country (and the world) at the Times, but says people underestimate SF.

• "They think that we just went to hell in a handbasket during the pandemic," she said. "There's still thriving small businesses, a lot of joyful people … there's so much to love about this city."

To hear Heather Knight's insider tips for SF (including her picks for best bar, nightclub and taco joint), check out our new episode of Local Motion.

It's time to put those dancing boots on.

"The Rocky Horror Show"

• The drag show/club party/ musical takes over the entire Oasis club tonight and tomorrow. Dress up, do the time warp and shiver with anticipation.

Grand National Rodeo

• If you've never seen someone do a flip on a galloping horse while holding the American flag, here's one way to fix that.

Fleet Week

• Head to Marina Green to check out the massive air show today through Sunday. (Yes, that's what that noise is.)

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