Our Commitment to Community

Indigenous Sovereignty & Land Acknowledgment

The creative team adapting Ziggy, Stardust & Me from novel to musical has a deep commitment to uplifting Indigenous stories and artists.

The photos below are captured from the Occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973.

Land Acknowledgment

"Land acknowledgment is a traditional custom that dates back centuries in many Native nations and communities. Today, land acknowledgments are used by Native Peoples and non-Natives to recognize Indigenous Peoples who are the original stewards of the lands on which we now live." ~National Museum of the American Indian

We first acknowledge that all land claimed by the 'united states' is unceded Indigenous land. We are guests on the land and the creative team hails from various places. Producer Dani Bedau lives on Tongva/Gabrieleno land. Author James Brandon lives on Esselen land. Writers James Martinez Salem and Jessie Field live in Manhattan on the land of the Lenape people. And dramaturg Courtney Elkin Mohler (Santa Barbara Chumash), currently resides in the Boston area on the ancestral land of the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc nations.

Background

The character of Web in Ziggy, Stardust & Me is a member of the Oglala Lakota Nation, was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, and was present at the American Indian Movement’s (AIM) occupation of Wounded Knee. Web’s character was created by novel author and musical co-producer James Brandon, after extensive research into AIM and the occupation of Wounded Knee, as well as consulting with several Two-Spirit and Indigequeer-identifying folks. Brandon’s ten-year involvement with the Bay Area American Indian Two-Spirits (BAAITS), in which he currently serves as a Board member, was the inspiration for Web and the character's backstory.

As our dramaturg, Courtney Elkin Mohler guided the play-development process and provided extensive background information to our creative team and company of student actors on AIM, the symbolic, spiritual and political significance of the occupation at Wounded Knee, as well as the history of the 1890 Massacre at Wounded Knee.

The play received initial development at San Diego State University which sits on unceded Kumeyaay land. The actor who played Web during the first development phase, Kenny Ramos, is from the Barona Band of Mission Indians/Kumeyaay Nation and grew up on the Barona Indian Reservation. In addition to originating the role, Ramos offered key insights into Web's character that were incorporated by the creative team during the script's development. And many members of the Kumeyaay Nation attended readings and workshop productions, providing invaluable feedback on the script and Web’s character.

Vision & Mission

We intend to develop an accountability rider modeled after Madeline Sayet’s rider for her 2019 solo show, Where We Belong. This rider will ensure that verbal and written land acknowledgments occur. It will also go beyond land acknowledgements by asking producing entities and theatres to connect with local tribes in the places where the play is developed and/or produced, inviting participation in lobby displays that feature local Native artists and organizations, as well as providing an agreed-upon number of complimentary tickets to local tribal communities to attend the show. The rider will also guarantee that, along with the actor playing Web, the producers and/or theatre hire at least one additional Indigenous artist as part of the creative team. This can include but not be limited to the director, designers and/or stage manager.

Additionally, a percentage of the co-producer’s profits will first go to any Land Back/Guest Exchange programs in local tribal communities. In communites where there is no Land Back/Guest Exchange program, the donation will be made to any local tribal efforts to support Indigequeer/Two-Spirit communities. If neither of these are present, the donation will be made to a tribal arts organization.