Last year, Indigenous students filmed a brief land acknowledgment for the Chandler Unified School District. Following a fierce public debate on Wednesday, its governing board members voted to play this video at the beginning of all future meetings and graduation ceremonies.
This message is only a minute and 43 seconds long — but it means a lot to Indigenous Parent Committee co-president Monique John, who is Navajo and Jemez. She was among a few dozen citizens backing the proposal amid the Wednesday night public comment window — just moments before the long-awaited roll call.
“We went into creating this video with positive intentions for our students and communities, all students: Native and non-Native,” John shared. “There’s been times when I met new people and my ethnicity was questioned. And a lot of times people were shocked, and some even said, ‘Oh, I thought you guys were extinct.’”
Chandler governing board member Kurt Rohrs disagrees, arguing that a requirement to regularly recite the school district’s land acknowledgement is insincere and rooted in politically motivated reasons.
He goes further to claim that replaying the recording could discourage parents from enrolling their children in the district. Rohrs also relays fear that the video may spread beyond graduation ceremonies and governing board meetings — seeping into sports and other school functions.
“It has no real purpose in addressing our primary mission of improving academic performance for our students,” said Rohrs. “This statement is an empty, performance gesture of wokeness, which really doesn’t accomplish anything.”
Basha High senior Syndel Preston, who is president of his school’s Indigenous student club, suggests otherwise. He thinks this very land acknowledgement offers much-needed validation. “Especially here, where the Akimel O’odham people — my people — have inhabited this land for centuries.”
“I want my Indigenous peers to know that they are seen, that the lands CUSD stands on is theirs as well,” said Preston, adding “I don’t believe it is divisive to want that for my community and those like me.”
The measure narrowly passed in a 3-2 vote — with President Patti Serrano, Vice President Barb Mozdzen and Claudia Mendoza carrying the motion, while fellow governing board members Ryan Heap and Rohrs dissented.
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