Acknowledgement at Ford’s

The EDI & Education and Interpretation departments are currently working together on a Ford’s Theatre land acknowledgement, as well as exploring our relationship to Indigenous history at our site as part of the Interpretative plan. We acknowledge that Ford’s Theatre sits on the homeland of the Piscataway and Nacotchtank (or Anacostan) peoples who lived, farmed, worked on and were original stewards of the land long before the construction of the current Ford’s theatre.  We honor the history and traditions of both peoples, many of whom are descendants and current tribal members that still live in the area.

But, what is a land acknowledgement?

A land acknowledgement is a formal or personal statement, often spoken at public events, included at historical sites, or developed by organizations and institutions to acknowledge that the current activity is taking place on land that was originally inhabited by and belonging to Indigenous people. Acknowledgement is a small gesture and first step towards reconciling with and resisting the erasure of Indigenous history and peoples. The statements are designed to bring awareness, curiosity, and calls to action to people participating in activities on unceded Native land. 

This video from The U.S. Department of Arts and Culture, does a nice job explaining how land acknowledgement can lead to awareness and action: https://youtu.be/ETOhNzBsiKA

How do I know whose land I am on?

Do your research! You can check out resources like the Native Land Map, where you can type in your address and learn more about territories, languages and treaties within your area. You can also check with your local municipality to see whether they have a land acknowledgement of their own. Many tribal communities are establishing websites that also can be useful sources of information. In DC, you can also check out the Once As It Was Map, a project of D.C. Native History Project.

Indigenous Tribes of Washington, D.C. (courtesy of American Library Association)

• Piscataway Conoy Tribe

• Piscataway Conoy Creations

• Pamunkey Indian Tribe 

• Nentego (Nanichoke)

• The Confederation of Sovereign Nanticoke-Lenape Tribes

• Mattaponi

• Chickahominy Indian Tribe

• Monacan Indian Nation

• Rappahannocks

• Virginia State Recognized Tribes

• Federal and State Recognized Tribes

• D.C. Native History Project

Support Indigenous Theatre & Artists

Check out some of the videos and resources below, and share your favorites with me and the staff:

We Will Always Be Here

This video, shared with me originally by my friend, Indigenous theatre artist and producer Ty Dafoe and their collaborators, shares land acknowledgement and powerful calls to action - made during 2020 amidst the national uprising for racial justice. http://www.katherinefreer.com/video

Re(Imagine) Indigenous Theatre Reading List

The Seattle Public Library, along with the Seattle Rep, has curated a list of readings about Indigenous Theatre across Turtle Island (the U.S.):

https://www.seattlerep.org/about-us/inside-seattle-rep/reimagine-indigenous-theater-reading-list/

Indigenous, First Nations, and Native Theatre - curated articles on Howlround

https://howlround.com/tags/indigenous-first-nations-native-theatre

American Theatre Mag’s List of Native Theatres and Theatremakers

https://www.americantheatre.org/2018/03/20/a-list-of-native-theatres-and-theatremakers/

Indigenize Your Life - Playlists, Movies, Books, Podcasts and More from Native WYSE Choices

https://www.instagram.com/p/CU0TCH8sjAr/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link