Heartell Press Land Acknowledgment

Heartell Press acknowledges that we are currently operating on the traditional lands of the Wea, Piankashaw, Shawnee, Delaware (Lenape), Potawatomi, Kickapoo, and Wyandot tribes that make up the greater Indiana Territory, and more specifically, the land of the Miami tribe, in Chief Little Turtle’s village, now known as Fort Wayne, Indiana.

We pay our respects to the Elders, past and present, who have watched after and nurtured this land for generations, and we recognize the forced removal of these Indigenous peoples from their homes and the ongoing injustices of colonization. We wish to uplift Indigenous voices and perspectives and are committed to learning more about the history of Indiana so that we may honor and pay homage to these peoples and their sacred ties to this land.

While our studio is based in Fort Wayne, our team members live and work across regions that also have rich Indigenous histories. We acknowledge those lands below as part of our collective responsibility and commitment.

Studio (Fort Wayne, Indiana)

Our operations and creative work take place in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on the ancestral lands of the Miami tribe (among others listed above). Chief Little Turtle’s village historically occupied this area, and it remains a sacred site of heritage, memory, and resistance.

By locating here, we acknowledge that our physical presence is grounded in this place—and in the ongoing legacies of displacement and settlement. We commit ourselves to honoring and uplifting the history, sovereignty, and living cultures of Indigenous peoples connected to this land.

Rachel – Sequim, Washington (S’Klallam Territory)

Rachel lives and works in Sequim, Washington, on the traditional lands of the S’Klallam (Nəxʷsƛ̕áy̕əm̕) Tribe, known as “The Strong People.”
Since relocating to Washington in 2023, she has been learning about the tribes of the Olympic Peninsula, Salish Sea, and Pacific Northwest, and sharing that journey with the Heartell team.

We acknowledge that Indigenous people have lived here for millennia and that our presence is built on a history of settler colonialism, with deep impacts to both the land and its peoples. We uphold a commitment to honoring Indigenous experience—past and present—through education and action as we pursue our mission to help people find meaning and connection.

Athena – Washington, Pennsylvania & Patagonia, Argentina

Athena splits her time between Washington, Pennsylvania, and Villa La Angostura, Patagonia, and she acknowledges the Indigenous peoples of both regions.

In Washington, Pennsylvania, she honors the ancestral lands of the Monongahela peoples and the Osage Nation.
In Patagonia, she acknowledges she resides on the traditional lands of the Willi Mapu (“land of the south”) — the Mapuche people, who have lived in deep connection to this region for generations.

Athena recognizes that her presence in these places is formed by histories of settler colonialism and displacement. She is dedicated to learning from these Indigenous communities, elevating their voices, and honoring their resilience through education, humility, and respectful action.

Tribal Glossary

Weh-ah – The Wea People
A Miami-Illinois-speaking tribe originally located in western Indiana, closely related to the Miami. Waayaahtanwa means “people of the place of the whirlpool.”
Pee-ANG-kuh-shaw – The Piankashaw
Meaning “those who separated,” originally a subtribe of the Miami Nation that grew into its own allied group.
Shaw-nee – The Shawnee People
Meaning “southern people.” Present in early historic times in Indiana, with some remaining until the late 19th century. (Algonquin language family)
Leh-nuh-pee – The Lenape (Delaware or Lenni-Lenape)
Meaning “true people.” The Lenape inhabited Indiana from the 1790s to the early 1820s before forced removal under the Treaty of St. Mary’s.
Pot-uh-wot-uh-mee – The Potawatomi
Meaning “keepers of the sacred fire.” Originating in the Great Lakes region and now existing as nine federally recognized bands. (Algonquin language family)
Miami (Myaamia)
The original inhabitants of Fort Wayne and northeastern Indiana. Their name means “downstream people.” Chief Little Turtle (Mihšihkinaahkwa) was one of their most notable leaders.

S’Klallam (Nəxʷsƛ̕áy̕əm̕)
Meaning “The Strong People,” the S’Klallam have lived on the northern Olympic Peninsula for thousands of years, maintaining fishing, weaving, and language traditions central to their identity.
Coast Salish Peoples
A broad group of tribes and nations around the Salish Sea—including the Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, and Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribes—who share deep kinship with the land, waterways, and one another.
Monongahela People
Indigenous inhabitants of southwestern Pennsylvania from approximately 1000–1630 CE, known for circular villages and complex social structures along the Monongahela River Valley.
Osage Nation (Wazhazhe)
Meaning “Mid-waters people,” the Osage originally lived along the Ohio and Mississippi Valleys before forced displacement westward. Their historic presence extends into parts of modern-day Pennsylvania.

Our Ongoing Commitment

We recognize that a Land Acknowledgment is only a beginning. Heartell Press is committed to continuous learning, reflection, and advocacy to support Indigenous communities, amplify Native voices, and honor the histories and futures of the peoples who steward these lands.