SANTA MONICA, CA — In a move she describes as “deeply spiritual,” Stephanie Clarke, a 32-year-old yoga instructor from Santa Monica, begins each day by acknowledging the traditional owners of her property—a three-bedroom suburban home built in 2018 by a mid-tier construction company.
Standing barefoot on her bamboo floor, clutching a ceramic mug of oat milk latte, Clarke solemnly proclaims, “I acknowledge that this house stands on the traditional lands of the Chumash people, who had no idea that someday this would be a cul-de-sac with a Trader Joe’s down the street.”
The Guilt is Real
Clarke claims the daily ritual helps her grapple with the “deep pain” of living in a house she purchased entirely legally with a 20% down payment from her parents. “I know my presence here contributes to the systemic erasure of Indigenous culture,” she explained, tearing up. “But also, Zillow said this was the best value in the area.”She maintains that the house, despite being constructed just six years ago, carries the weight of history. “The land remembers,” Clarke insists. “Even if it’s now covered in turf grass and a saltwater pool.”
A Commitment to Performative Activism
The acknowledgment is not where Clarke’s efforts end. She has also replaced her front yard’s Halloween inflatables with a handmade sign reading, “You Are On Stolen Land,” written in calligraphy she learned during an online workshop.Despite these actions, Clarke admits she isn’t entirely sure which Indigenous tribe once occupied her land. “I Googled it, but it got confusing, so I just say ‘all of them.’ Better safe than sorry, right?”
Neighbors Are ‘Not Sure What She’s Doing’
Clarke’s ritual has confused many of her neighbors. “At first, we thought it was yoga,” said Ben Johnson, who lives next door. “But then we heard her giving speeches to her succulents about colonialism. I mean, it’s her house, isn’t it? Who is she apologizing to?”Critics Question Authenticity
Some local activists have criticized Clarke’s approach, calling it a hollow performance. “If she really cared about land justice, she could give the house back or pay reparations,” said one critic. “But something tells me she’s not quite ready to move back in with her parents.”The Tradition Continues
Unfazed by criticism, Clarke says she plans to expand her ritual. She now includes a daily acknowledgment of the laborers who built her home, the barista who made her oat milk latte, and the Amazon driver who delivered her compostable yoga mat.“Mindfulness is key,” Clarke said. “If we all just acknowledged everything and everyone all the time, the world would be such a better place.” When asked if she would ever consider moving to truly undo the harm, she paused. “Let’s not be unrealistic.”