First, we would like to begin with a Land Acknowledgement stating that we, the staff at Deep Roots Market Food Co-op, are occupying ancestral land of the Occaneechi and other Siouan tribes. We honor Indigenous peoples who have been stewards of the land in the past, who currently dwell on the land, and who will continue to be part of this land for generations to come.

Native American Heritage Month and Indigenous Peoples’ Day, in November, celebrate the culture and contributions of Indigenous people. During these times, the deep traumas the Native communities face are increasingly recognized.

This enhanced focus then helps to reshape the narrative of how Columbus “discovered” the Americas. It also directs the conversation towards restoring relationships with those communities and balance with the land. Redirecting the focus also serves as a reminder that colonization is an ongoing process for Native peoples.

The continuation of Native erasure today, however, can be combated through the unlearning of Thanksgiving and other decolonizing practices, such as supporting food sovereignty efforts. Food sovereignty is the right for people to access healthy, culturally appropriate, and sustainably produced food. When you use your purchasing power at Deep Roots, you support food sovereignty.

As we work toward changing our mindset, and what part we play in uprooting systems of oppression, we hope that these questions challenge you to look within yourself as the first step in shifting your perspective.

WE WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU!

• What tribal land does your house, campus, or city occupy? What do you know about the tribes who existed there before colonization? What tribes are still active near you?
• What is one specific way that co-ops can serve decolonization? How could Deep Roots Market implement this practice?

Thank you for taking the time to consider this and learn more about our land.

In Cooperation,
Deep Roots Market