CU@TS Land Acknowledgement

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We believe that creating our work - and the opportunity to share it with you - is a privilege. Our ability to gather in theatre spaces and engage with perspectives other than our own is a privilege that we consider sacred. Because of this, it's important to us that we acknowledge both the Indigenous land we occupy, as well as the hands that built the country and cities we call home.

We recognize and acknowledge that we gather today on indigenous land - the traditional homeland of the people of Kickapoo, Peoria, Kaskaskia, Myaamia, and Ochethi Sakowin - which was taken through deception, coercion, violence and genocide. We acknowledge the continued displacement and oppression of Native people and honor their commitments to survival, identity, and the protection of our world.

We acknowledge that the United States was built at the often fatal expense of forcefully enslaved Black people. We acknowledge those who still cannot safely walk down the street or fully enjoy fundamental civil rights and freedoms. We acknowledge that our twin cities and county remains segregated and inequitable. We aim to cultivate space for Black stories to be uplifted and for Black lives to be celebrated. We pledge to infuse our work with true values of anti-racism.

We offer these acknowledgments and experiences into this space with respect and gratitude, along with the intention to spark more awareness, compassion and empathy for every life in our community.