We humbly acknowledge that our store in the Ghent neighborhood of Norfolk, Virginia, occupies the traditional lands of the Indigenous peoples who lived, thrived, and stewarded this region long before European settlers arrived. Specifically, this land is part of the ancestral territory of the Nansemond Indian Nation and the Chesepian people, who cultivated and preserved this area’s natural resources for generations.

The Nansemond Indian Nation is one of the tribes of the Powhatan Confederacy and has a deep, enduring connection to the lands and waters of what is now southeastern Virginia. The Chesepian people, too, were among those who inhabited the coastal regions we now call Norfolk, Portsmouth, Chesapeake, and Virginia Beach.

Descendants of these indigenous people are among us. We thank them for their forbearance that we may offer a space in which people may learn, journey, and have their needs met mindfully as we share in the same goal of protecting Mother Earth and all the life it sustains.

We recognize the lasting impact of colonization, which led to the displacement and erasure of Native peoples from their ancestral lands. Today, we honor and respect the Nansemond Indian Nation, the Chesepian people, and all Indigenous communities whose histories and cultures are intertwined with this region.

As we occupy this space, we commit to learning more about this land’s history, amplifying Indigenous voices, and supporting efforts to protect and uplift Native sovereignty, traditions, and rights.

We encourage our community to explore the stories of the Indigenous peoples who have stewarded these lands and to support their ongoing contributions to our shared environment and society.

Why do you give land acknowledgment?

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.
Acknowledgment 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. 

Source and further education: https://usdac.us/nativeland/