Today, we echo the words of colleagues whose wisdom inspires the American Psychological Association (APA). “We acknowledge the First Peoples of our countries, as the custodians and occupants of the traditional lands where we live, work, and recreate. We pay our respects to the Elders past, present, the seven generations yet to come, and to their continued connection to the land and community” (Aiello et al., 2021, p. 7). Within that spirit, APA apologizes for its contributions to the harms that First Peoples and their communities have suffered and commits to a path of remediation and reconciliation into the future. We further acknowledge the sovereignty, strength, spirituality, resilience, and perseverance of First Peoples, who are the “proud custodians of the longest surviving cultures on our planet” (Australian Psychological Society, 2017, p.1). In so doing, we humbly recognize and honor the richness and diversity of Indigenous cultures that value the wholeness and authenticity of life, the interconnectedness and respect for all sentient beings, mental health and wellness, the vital roles of cross-generational bonds from the distant past far into the future, and the historical and current stewardship of these lands.

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Source: American Psychological Association, released date: February 2023