Land Acknowledgement

The Villains Theatre is honoured to create work in Kjipuktuk, at the Great Harbour, which has been and continues to be the traditional, unsurrendered, and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. This territory is covered by the “Treaties of Peace and Friendship” which Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) people first signed with the British Crown in 1725. These treaties did not deal with surrender of lands and resources but in fact recognized Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet) title and established the rules for what was to be an ongoing relationship between nations.

We acknowledge that this company is run by two individuals who identify as White Settlers, and that Settler presence in this land is a result of the systems of colonialism, gentrification, and displacement. As we reflect on how we benefit from the use of this land, we can consider: what are we doing to reconcile our shared history, in order to ensure justice and equity?

We are all treaty people. By learning about the treaties that we are a part of, we can take action to ensure that we and our governments abide by and respect these treaties.

The Villains also recognize that Indigenous and Black & African Nova Scotian artists are underrepresented in the Canadian theatre community. We strive to eliminate oppressive practices and to critically examine settler colonialism within our institutional structure.

We are grateful to be able to live, work, play, and create on this land.