The grasslands on which Konza Prairie LTER research is focused have been a home to people for thousands of years, including many named and unnamed peoples who lived and hunted here prior to European settlement. Indigenous people of the Kaw (Kanza) Nation inhabited and stewarded this area until their forced removal between 1846 and 1872, when they were relocated to a small reservation in what is now Oklahoma. The depopulated Kaw land was subsequently used to finance the Land-Grant University system under the Morrill Act of 1862, including Kansas State University, which administers the Konza Prairie LTER Program. Our LTER research program operates under a name, “Konza”, that is derived from the name of the Kaw, or “Kaáⁿze”, People.
The Konza Prairie LTER acknowledges the immemorial connection of Indigenous peoples with these lands, and we pledge to respect and honor the past and current legacy, cultural history, and knowledge of the Kaw Nation. Through our professional capacity as scientists and educators, we will work to increase our knowledge of the human legacy of these lands, and in turn, will teach this history to others. The beauty of this land inspires our work to understand the tallgrass prairie and support conservation of this ecosystem. However, this inspiration also serves as a reminder of the Indigenous human history that has shaped the modern landscape, and the influence that our current actions will have on the prairie of the future.
*Revised through discussion at/after Konza LTER annual meeting. 1 Oct 2021.
Suggested shorter text for use in presentations or publications:
The grasslands on which Konza Prairie LTER research is focused have been a home to people for thousands of years, including many named and unnamed peoples who lived and hunted here prior to European settlement. Indigenous people of the Kaw (Kanza) Nation inhabited and stewarded this area until their forced removal between 1846 and 1872. The Konza Prairie LTER acknowledges the immemorial connection of Indigenous peoples with these lands, and we pledge to respect and honor the past and current legacy, cultural history, and knowledge of the Kaw Nation.