We Are Settlers

For now, The Works of Hanna du Plessis is owned by Marc Rettig—a white man in his 60s. My ancestors came from Europe to the US where they participated in the project of colonization. This includes forcefully removing indigenous people from their land and into assimilation, and enslaving black and brown-bodied people to labor for Europeans. My ancestors used this land and labor to profit economically.

I too have benefitted from the legacy of colonialism. While I am far from wealthy by US standards, I have a good education, I have a sturdy network of friends and family, and I’m able to meet my needs. My whiteness has protected me from some harm, hardship and trauma. 

An oversight committee and an ensemble of part-time collaborators and co-creators collaborates to pursue our intention, which requires a diversity of views if it is to serve those we aim to serve. We will edit this statement from time to time to reflect our relationship with this history and these peoples.

The Works of Hanna du Plessis is based in Pittsburgh, on the ancestral lands of many indigenous peoples: the Seneca Nation, members of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy (referred to by the French as the Iroquois Confederacy). This included the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Senecas. This region was also home to the Lenape, the Shawnee, and others.

Wanting to be part of change asks us to grapple with our inheritance as settlers. We does not own land. (Marc owns his home and has access to family land in Montana.) As far as we know we cannot give land back, but we can participate in a shift towards re-matriarching land, towards the thriving of indigenous peoples. For now we do this by financially supporting Indigenous-led initiatives (thinking of it as a type of land tax). 

The same intention goes for our relationship to black and brown people. We prioritize the thriving of our black and brown kin. This desire has taken on many shapes and will continue to evolve. It is written into our stewardship agreement with Hanna that her share of income from sale of her works be directed to organizations that support young black women in South Africa. We steward that directive. 

While all of this is imperfect, we will keep learning how to show up and share in solidarity.