Grounding Statement - Phamaly Theatre Company

As we gather today and begin creative exploration in collaboration with one another…

We acknowledge the original stewards of this land – the Arapaho, Cheyenne, Ute, Comanche, and Apache – and the painful history of genocide and forcible displacement from their ancestral homelands.

We acknowledge the people who were forcibly brought to this land and enslaved against their will.

We acknowledge the people who have had rights denied, and who have fought to have rights restored.

We acknowledge the people who created Phamaly as a place where people would be welcome, and where humans of all identities could work to advance our shared humanity.

We renew, reaffirm, and give thanks to all who came before us and gave of themselves so that we may be here, now, engaging with the transformative power of the artistic process.

We commit to honor their legacies by acting from a place of respect, bravery, boldness, curiosity, and love.

The links below include information about the historic tribes of Colorado. You can also text 855-917-5263 to learn on what Native lands you reside. We invite others to share about the tribes from the lands where you reside.

http://www.ala.org/aboutala/offices/denver-colorado-tribes

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/ccia/historic-tribes-colorado

https://www.coloradocollege.edu/other/indigenous-community/land-acknowledgement.html

We are outraged at the senseless murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless other black individuals whose lives have been taken at the hands of racism and white supremacy. Too often, those of us who are white members of the disability community have not stood, sat, or rolled beside our black and brown brothers and sisters – visibly, vocally, in solidarity – acknowledging the gains we have availed from their struggle. Fighting “their” fight. It is not “their” fight. It is OUR fight. BLACK LIVES MATTER. We stand, sit, and roll with our black artists and community members. We stand, sit, and roll with the protesters who demonstrate against violence and injustice. We stand, sit, and roll with our fellow community members who are committed to positive action toward reversing the legacy of racism in America. We can do better. We will do better. If you are a white member of our community – disabled or non-disabled – we implore you to pay attention. Listen. Understand. And act.