Virginia Stage Company
Land Acknowledgement
17 October 2022

The Virginia Stage Company acknowledges the Chesepioc, Nansemond and other peoples of the Powhatan Tribes as the original stewards of this land, taken by conquest, on which the Wells Theater now stands. The descendants of these indigenous people still live among us. We thank them for their forbearance and for the enjoyment and education this space affords all people seeking justice and wisdom.

The VSC likewise acknowledges the injustice done to Black and other people of color during the unconscionable era of segregation when this theater divided and distanced its patrons by separating their seating areas (Blacks in the balcony; Whites in the orchestra). May we learn from grave errors of the past to build a just and more loving society.

Why do we introduce the practice of land acknowledgement?

In countries such as New Zealand, Australia, Canada, and among tribal nations in the U.S., it is commonplace, even policy, to open events and gatherings by acknowledging the traditional Indigenous inhabitants of that land. While some individuals and cultural and educational institutions in the United States have adopted this custom, the vast majority have not. Together, we can spark a movement to change that.

We call on all individuals and organizations to open public events and gatherings with acknowledgment of the traditional Native inhabitants of the land.

Acknowledgement is a simple, powerful way of showing respect and a step toward correcting the stories and practices that erase Indigenous people’s history and culture and toward inviting and honoring the truth. Imagine this practice widely adopted: imagine cultural venues, classrooms, conference settings, places of worship, sports stadiums, and town halls, acknowledging traditional lands. Millions would be exposed—many for the first time—to the names of the traditional Indigenous inhabitants of the lands they are on, inspiring them to ongoing awareness and action. 

While other countries have addressed, and reconciled the centuries of injustice and violence that colonialism has wrought on their indigenous peoples; the Americas have struggled from the highest positions of power to unite and discuss a true national effort of reparations to a history of erasure. Through introducing this acknowledgement, and asking others to do the same, we begin to normalize a simple yet radical act that can pervade cultural and societal understanding and trigger a dialogue that can eventually pervade the highest powers in the land.

Source: https://usdac.us/nativeland/