Land Acknowledgement

Land Acknowledgement

The Northern Shenandoah Valley Chapter of the Archaeological Society of Virginia would like to acknowledge that the land that of our office and lab are located on, the locations of many of the sites and projects that we work with, and the counties in which they reside are the traditional homelands of the Monacan, Manahoac, and other Siouan speaking people, past and present.  We acknowledge that the Native history of this region should be recognized.  It is important to remember that the indigenous Monacan, Manahoac, and other Siouan speaking people were a part of this land for over 12,000 years before having it taken from them in colonial establishment and expansion.  It is with great gratitude and humility that we acknowledge them and show respect for them, their ancestors, and their culture, past and present in an effort to stop indigenous erasure.  Despite the hardships they’ve endured through the loss of this land they remain and thrive on Bear Mountain in Amherst County, Virginia as both the state and federally recognized sovereign Monacan Indian Nation tribe.  To learn more about them please visit https://www.monacannation.com/.