Wayne State University rests on Waawiyaataanong, also referred to as Detroit, the ancestral and contemporary homeland of the Three Fires Confederacy. These sovereign lands were granted by the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomi, and Wyandot nations, in 1807, through the Treaty of Detroit. Wayne State University affirms Indigenous sovereignty and honors all tribes with a connection to Detroit. With our Native neighbors, WSU can advance educational equity and promote a better future for the earth and all people. 

We humbly acknowledge the profound trauma of forced labor endured by Black Americans, whose labor and sacrifices have been integral to the advancement of our nation. Enslaved and exploited African Americans built the foundation of the U.S. economy and infrastructure, fought for civil rights, and continue to shape our culture in countless ways. We are committed to confronting the legacy of systemic oppression and working toward a more just and equitable future.