Observing Indigenous Peoples Day 2024

To the university community,

Virginia Tech resides on the homeland of the Tutelo/Monacan Peoples, financed and founded through the forced removal of Native nations via the Morrill Land-Grant College Act of 1862. Today, we recognize this history, the Native peoples’ continued relationships with their lands and waterways, and their sovereignty. We commit to changing the trajectory of Virginia Tech through explicit material actions, including increasing Indigenous student, staff, and faculty recruitment and retention, diversifying course offerings, and meeting the growing needs of all Virginia tribes, as well as the adoption of land acknowledgement and labor recognition statements.

This pledge is in alignment with InclusiveVT, the institutional and individual commitment to Ut Prosim (That I May Serve) in the spirit of community, diversity, and excellence.

“The contributions of Indigenous peoples are an essential part of our university’s past, present, and future,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. “Making higher education more accessible to Native students in the commonwealth reflects our modern land-grant mission, Principles of Community, and commitment to student success.”

We also create a new future for Virginia Tech in our observance of Indigenous Peoples Day. Virginia Tech has observed Indigenous Peoples Day since 2019; that first resolution made by the University Council and written by Virginia Tech’s Indigenous students was history-making.

“Observing Indigenous Peoples Day at Virginia Tech is significant as it honors the history and contributions of Native and Indigenous peoples, affirming their ongoing presence,” said Melissa Faircloth, director for the Ati: Wa:oki Indigenous Community Center. “This resolution reflects the university's commitment to inclusivity and the importance of confronting challenging historical narratives and relationships.

“While these steps are positive, there is still much work to be done in making education more accessible, particularly through remote options that allow tribal citizens to study from home as well as addressing the high cost of attendance. Building a truly inclusive environment requires continuous effort in these areas.”

“As a Monacan tribal citizen, I know firsthand how it felt to be erased from history — when we recognize the first people of the land we inhabit, we have the ability to participate in a truthful retelling of our history,” said Vicky Ferguson, presidential ambassador to Native Nations and program director for the historical Solitude-Fraction site. “Indigenous people have been here for many millennia, and it is good to acknowledge us and our ongoing contributions to society. Indigenous Peoples’ Day is an opportunity to do those things.”

Acknowledging Virginia Tech’s historical relationship with local Native communities as well as fostering relationships with the Tutelo/Monacan Peoples and other Native nations in the present, will guide us toward a more inclusive and equitable future for all. I encourage you to participate in this year’s Indigenous Peoples Day activities and visit the Ati: Wa:oki Indigenous Community Center today.

Menah Pratt
Vice President for Strategic Affairs and Diversity

This year’s events

Each year, we host several events throughout the day in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day. Events planned for Oct. 14 include:

• Wild Relations, a photography art exhibition
  Perspective Gallery, second floor of Squires Student Center
  All day
• First Contact: A Densely Inhabited Land, a graphic art exhibition
  Second floor of Newman Library
  All day
• The Native Vote: 100 Years After Citizenship, a public talk
  Newman Multipurpose Room (Goodall Room)
  10:30-11:30 a.m.
• Voices from the Urban Indigenous Campfire, a performance
  Moss Arts Center
  7:30 p.m.