Amherst Ballet acknowledges that it occupies the unceded homelands of the Pocumtuc Nation on the land of the Norrwutuck community. We understand that naming this is not enough – we are doing this as a way of acknowledging and reminding ourselves about the land we occupy, and we know this act alone does not repair the damage done by colonialism. We want to acknowledge the original stewards of the land where we live and work.

We honor and acknowledge the neighboring Indigenous nations including: the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, and the Wampanaoag Tribe of Gay Head to the East, the Mohegan, Pequot, Schgaticoke, and Narragansett to the South, the Haundenosaunee Confederacy to the west, and the Penobscott, Mi’kmaq, Wabanaki, and Abenaki to the North. 

We also acknowledge that Indigenous nations have entertained the empty words and gestures of invaders and opportunists for centuries. It is important to continually interrupt processes that colonize and dispossess, including in education. With this acknowledgement comes a shared responsibility to work intentionally toward authentic engagement and good relationship with Indigenous communities. As critical and conscientious educators, we also acknowledge Land+, who is the first teacher, and our ancestors, elders, and communities, who together are the second.