Librarian for Media Studies, Gender Studies, & Philosophy
Land Acknowledgment & Resource Guide
Indiana University and the city of Bloomington occupy lands of enduring historical and cultural significance, and that for some was, is, and will always be home, to a number of Indigenous groups, including the Myaamiaki (Miami), Lënape (Delaware), Saawanwa (Shawnee), kiikaapoa (Kickapoo), and Neshnabé/Bodwéwadmik (Potawatomi) peoples. We honor and acknowledge the ancestral and contemporary caretakers of this place, as well as our nonhuman spirits, elders, and guides, offer gratitude for being held and nourished by the land, and recognize the inherent sovereignty and resilience of all Native communities who have survived and still thrive to this day on Turtle Island in spite of the systemic subjugation, dispossession, and genocide that constitute the ongoing reality of settler-colonialism.
We encourage all, settlers and guests alike, to look beyond acknowledgement and engage with local Indigenous communities while also cultivating thoughtful relations of reciprocity with the sacred land you live on, as well as the many vibrant beings with whom you share it.
Further Resources & Reading
- Land Reparations & Indigenous Solidarity Toolkit
- Resource Guide to Reparations and Land Rematriation on Turtle Island
- Suggestions for Native Organizations to Support
- 10 Native Activism Organizations to Support (Teen Vogue)
- Native Land Interactive Map
- Indigenous Heritage & History Month Resources (IU Libraries)
- Queer Projects on Indigenous Land (The Sogorea Te Land Trust)
- Decolonize Your Bookshelf (Electric Literature)
- Decolonize Your Bookshelf (Verso)
- First Nations Educational & Cultural Center @ IU (FNECC)
- FNECC Land Acknowledgment & Resources
If you'd like to learn more about the practice and history of indigenous land acknowledgments, consult the resources below. You can also navigate to our full resource guide.
Preliminary Resources
- What are land acknowledgements and why do they matter? (United Way)
- Indigenous Land Acknowledgment, Explained (Teen Vogue)
Guides & Toolkits
- Guide to Indigenous Land Acknowledgments (Native Governance Center)
- Territory Acknowledgement Resource Page (Native Land)
- Land Acknowledgment Toolkit (CSUSM)
Critical Takes
- Beyond Territorial Acknowledgments (Apihtawikosisan)
- Burial Ground Acknowledgments (The New Inquiry)
- Beyond Land Acknowledgment: A Guide (Native Governance Center)
- Indigenous Artists' Perspectives on Land Acknowledgments (Vice)
- Rethinking the Practice and Performance of Indigenous Land Acknowledgement (Canadian Theatre Review)
To learn more about the tribes, nations, and communities with ties to this land colonially known as the state of Indiana, check out their websites and consider supporting them in an ongoing way however you can:
Myaamiaki (Miami)
Lënape (Delaware)
- Delaware Nation (OK)
- Delaware Tribe of Indians (OK)
Saawanwa (Shawnee)
- Absentee Shawnee Tribe (OK)
- Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma (OK)
- Shawnee Tribe (OK)
Kiikaapoa (Kickapoo)
Neshnabé/Bodwéwadmik (Potawatomi)
- Citizen Potawatomi Nation (OK)
- Forest County Potawatomi (WI)
- Gun Lake Tribe (MI)
- Hannahville Indian Community (MI)
- Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi (MI)
- Pokagon Band of Potawatomi (IN & MI)
- Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation (KS)
About
Welcome to the Asexuality and Aromantic Resources subject guide for Indiana University Bloomington
We're glad you're here. This guide contains information and resources pertaining to Asexuality and Aromanticism. Here you'll find Books & Media, Scholarly Resources, and a curated list of local and online resources surrounding Aro/Ace identities.
The subject specialist and collection manager for this area is nicholae cline. If you would like to contact them, please use the profile box on the left hand side of this page. If you would like to request a purchase for our collections, you can use this form.
Notable Flags and Their Meanings
Asexuality: A term used to describe someone who does not experience sexual attraction toward individuals of any gender. Asexuality is a sexual orientation, and is different from celibacy, in that celibacy is the choice to refrain from engaging in sexual behaviors and does not comment on one’s sexual attractions. An asexual individual may choose to engage in sexual behaviors for various reasons even while not experiencing sexual attraction.
Asexual Pride Flag Colors and their Meanings:
Black represents asexuality
Grey represents grey-ace people and demisexuality in the asexual spectrum
White represents allosexuality (presence of sexual attraction); also representing non-asexual allies
Purple represents community
Aromanticism: A term usually used to describe people who don’t feel romantic attraction to others, which means they generally don’t desire to be in romantic relationships with people, or engage in romantic acts with others. Aromantic folks can feel sexual attraction and can be of any sexual orientation or gender identity.
Aromantic Pride Flag Colors and their Meanings:
Green and Light Green represents the aromantic spectrum (green is thought to be the opposite color of red, a color commonly associated with romance)
White represents platonic love and friendship
Grey represents demiromantic and grey-aromantic people
Black represents the spectrum of different sexualities
Greysexual: A term used to describe people who experience limited sexual attraction. Similar terms include grey-ace, grey-a, or grey asexuality. Milith Rusignuolo devised the first greysexual flag, which was uploaded to Wikipedia on June 21st, 2013.
Greysexual Pride Flag Colors and their Meanings:
Purple represents asexuality
Grey stands for the greysexual spectrum or feeling little or infrequent sexual attraction
White stands for allosexuality or feeling sexual attraction
Greyromantic: A term used to describe people who may experience romantic attraction, but very infrequently or experiencing very little romantic attraction. Other experiences greyromantic people may feel include experiencing romantic attraction but having little desire for a romantic relationship, feeling attraction only in specific circumstances, and feeling unsure or alienated from romance.
Greyromantic Pride Flag Colors and their Meanings:
Green represents aromanticism and the aromantic spectrum (green is thought to be the opposite color of red, a color commonly associated with romance)
Grey represents the spectrum of demiromantic and grey-romantic people
White represents platonic love and friendship
Demisexual: A term used to describe someone that only experiences sexual attraction after developing emotional connections. Most demisexuals feel sexual attraction rarely compared to the general population, and some have little to no interest in sexual activity.
Demisexual Pride Flag Colors and their Meanings:
Black represents asexuality
White represents allosexuality (the presence of sexual attraction)
Grey represents the spectrum of greysexuality
Purple represents community
Demiromantic: A term used to describe people who don't have a primary romantic attraction and would need to have a deep emotional connection in order to feel romantic attraction.
Demiromantic Pride Flag and
Green represents aromantic (green is thought to be the opposite color of red, a color commonly associated with romance)
White represents platonic love and friendship
Grey and Black represents demiromantic and grey-aromantic orientations
About Allonormativity
Allonormativity is the assumption that all people experience sexual attraction or allosexual.
Amatonormativity is the assumption that all human beings pursue love or romance, especially by means of a monogamous long-term relationship. The term was coined by Elizabeth Brake, in her book Minimizing Marriage: Marriage, Mortality, and the Law (2011).
Allonormativity and amatonormativity can do harm by making aspec people feel broken or like something is missing, have a medical issue that needs to be fixed, or making people feel pressured to date or have sex even if they don't want to.
Examples of Allonormativity:
- Equating sexual inexperience with immaturity
- Medical professionals assuming that lack of sexual activity is cause of concern
- Assumption that sexual liberation means having sex, that not having sex means you are repressing your sexuality
- Many queer spaces and resources emphasize sex over other forms of queer relationships/identities
Examples of Amatonormativity:
- Assuming that everyone wants to get married, and unmarried/unpartnered people are lonely/unhappy
- Treating romantic relationships as more important than friendships
- The structuring of society around married couples (housing, taxes, etc.)
- "Do you have a boyfriend/girlfriend/partner yet?"
Allies of asexual and aromantic people can consider their contributions of allonormativity and amatonormativity and work to minimize these assumptions about romantic and sexual norms. Challenge assumptions that romantic/sexual relationships must be the most important relationship in someone's life. Also, use this libguide as a resource to educate yourself on ace and aro topics as well as engage in aro/ace media and support aro/ace creators.
(Content pulled from Asexual and Aromantic Community and Education Club at Smith College)