There is irrefutable evidence that Indigenous Peoples and their ancestors passed through and resided in the Northeastern region of the United States well before the arrival of colonist settlers. The town of Hopkinton is situated on lands most recently occupied by the Nipmuc People, or “freshwater peoples” of the great Algonquian language tradition. They were, are now, and forever will be, caretakers of all the lands they move through and reside on. The colonizers eventually brought the arrival of “praying plantations” or towns whose purpose was to take Indigenous communities from their homes and families and put them together in small groups to eliminate traditional ways of life. Traditional values and cultural systems were replaced with Western items, ideas, and concepts, including clothing, language, faith, ownership, capitalism, colonialism, and politics. In the town we currently call Hopkinton and some surrounding townships, the established praying town was called Magwonkkommok and likely comprised of Indigenous populations from the Nipmuc and Massachusett Tribes. Ultimately, these lands were purchased from the Native Americans and leased out, displacing them once again.

What is the purpose of our Land Acknowledgment?
While we are not able to change the past, we can acknowledge the crimes and injustices against the Indigenous populations of the United States of America, Massachusetts, and the Town of Hopkinton. We speak this truth to honor the First Peoples of this land. Northwestern University said, "Colonialism is an ongoing process, and we need to build our mindfulness of our present participation”. We wholeheartedly agree, and in this spirit, we cannot remain complicit in the erasure of Indigenous history, Indigenous stories, and Indigenous cultures. This acknowledgment is the first part of a long and continuous journey. As we educate ourselves, we hope to lead our community in conversation and partnership with local Indigenous community members to move towards a more aware and inclusive future that fully respects the First Peoples, their ancestors, and the land we call home.

Who does it benefit?
We hope this land acknowledgment will benefit past, present, and future Indigenous peoples. We hope the awareness raised and ongoing conversations and partnerships will help build a future where all persons in any society will benefit, indigenous traditions will be elevated, and the earth will be cared for more.

What are our ongoing responsibilities?
We must hold ourselves and this community accountable. As an arts and cultural center, we connect to how people express themselves. The HCA’s mission is to “foster joy and belonging by artfully engaging a community where the creative spirit thrives.”
 
To begin with, we are committed to programming at least one artist from an Indigenous community every year of our future performance or artistic programming. We know this is not enough. This does not undo the past. Nor does this change the present situation for anyone belonging to an indigenous group or family. To this point, we also want to extend ourselves in recurring conversation and partnership so we can learn over time what is meaningful to you, the Nipmuc People, your ancestors, your future, and our surrounding communities. In tending to this friendship, we also hope to play a role in making this collaborative vision of our world a reality.