Land Acknowledgment

As an Indigenous person, I would like to acknowledge the land that I am on today and the people who have and do reside here. I recognize that this land is the traditional territory of several Indigenous peoples, including the Poospatuck, Shinnecock, Setauket, Matinecock, Siwanoy, and Quinnahung tribes.

For generations, these Indigenous peoples stewarded this land, protecting its resources and living in harmony with the natural world around them. They did not consider themselves owners of the land but rather stewards, and they recognized the importance of respecting the resources that sustained them, including the oak and pine trees, rivers, plant medicine, clams, and oysters.

As an artist and educator, I believe it is important to acknowledge the history and culture of all tribes and people of color to ensure that their names, resting places, and traditions are never forgotten. With a collective knowledge of the past, I aspire to teach, live, and support a future that empowers all individuals.