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ESIL Emblem graphic with open hand palms surrounding the earth "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors, but borrow it from our children."

-Native American Proverb

The ESIL program acknowledges that the land on which our campus was built has a history of cultural displacement:

“We honor and acknowledge that we are on the traditional territories and ancestral homelands of the Cheyenne, Arapaho, and Ute nations. The area on which this campus resides was an epicenter for trade, information sharing, planning for the future, community, family and ally building, as well as conducting healing ceremonies for over 45 Indigenous Nations, including the Lakota, Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, Shoshone, Paiute, Zuni, Hopi among others."

“We must recognize Indigenous peoples as the original inhabitants and stewards of this land. As these words of acknowledgment are spoken and heard, remember the ties these nations still have to their traditional homelands. Let us acknowledge the painful history of genocide and forced removal from this territory and pay our respect to the diverse Indigenous peoples still connected to this land. We give thanks to all Tribal Nations and the ancestors of this place.” -Grace RedShirt Tyon

About Land Acknowledgment

Who We Are and What We Do

The mission of the ESIL program is to broaden participation of Indigenous students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) through education and community partnerships that promote healing and stewardship of Native land.

ESIL supports this mission by providing a safe space for Indigenous students and a coordinated certificate program of workshops, internships, and professional development that prepares graduates to liaison on environmental issues between tribal and non-tribal organizations. ESIL comprises representatives from tribes, five government agencies, and five academic departments at the University of Colorado Denver. ESIL has enjoyed support with two major awards from the National Science Foundation, one of which provides scholarships up to $10,000 per year for domestic STEM majors enrolled at least half time.

The ESIL certificate provides a unique training opportunity for students to combine a passion for protecting natural resources with a desire to communicate across diverse cultures and schools of thought. We hope you will join us in this exciting educational opportunity!