Acknowledgements

My name is Sid Ryan Eilers (they/them), founder of EILERS Dance Theatre.Our work takes place on the traditional lands of the Erie, Neutral, Huron-Wendat, Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This land is governed by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, a treaty that calls for shared responsibility and care of the resources in this region. We also acknowledge the Between the Lakes Purchase of 1792 between the Crown and the Mississaugas of the Credit.

This land acknowledgment stems from a reflection on my personal journey, inspired by Elder Maria Montejo’s teachings in her Indigenous 101 workshop at Dodem Kanonhsa.  She posed a vital question to me: “Find out where you are Indigenous to.” This question led me to explore my own family history, connecting me to my great grandfather, Henry Eilers, my freat grand father and the legacy of my family fleeing the turmoil of the Russian Revolution and Nazi regime. Like many settlers, my family’s resilience is part of the narrative, yet we owe a deep debt to the Indigenous peoples who have cared for these lands for generations.

Elder Maria illuminated how colonialism thrives by severing our ties to our lineages and fostering division between communities. Recognizing this, I see our work at EILERS Dance Theatre as a collective practice of unlearning colonial frameworks, reconnecting with the land, and fostering relationships rooted in respect, care, and solidarity. 

We acknowledge the ongoing impacts of colonialism, including the violent legacy of the residential school system, and the continued tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, and transgender people. This acknowledgment is not a single act but a continual commitment to challenge these systems of oppression and to create spaces for healing and transformation.

Through the performances we create, such as Kiss The Stormy Sky, we aim to invite critical dialogue and introspection on identity, belonging, and the complexity of our shared histories. Our work is not just about the stories we tell but also about how we listen, witness, and co-create a more just world together.

As we move forward, we remain committed to honoring the land and its caretakers, and we invite you, our audience, to join us in reflecting on our shared responsibilities as guests and partners on this land.

The following are interpretations of the Dish with One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant. There are various interpretations, but we offer these for your information. There is also a link to information on the Between the Lakes Purchase, 1792.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V7S6V8cpAdE
• https://www.indiantime.net/story/2010/08/05/cultural-corner/the-dish-with-one-spoon/7510.html
• https://nandogikendan.com/dish-with-one-spoon/
• http://mncfn.ca/treaty3/

To learn more about whose land you are on, visit Native Land.