With contrite and humble hearts, we honor the Saura, also known as the Cheraw people, who lived in settlements near here along the Dan River. The Cheraw joined the Great Catawba Nation, and for generations were stewards of this land, understanding the synchrony of earth and all its creatures. We pay respect to their elders, past and present. This land has also witnessed years of enslavement and exploitation of African people. We acknowledge their suffering and ask that you remember the African captives as well as the Catawba Nation while here on their ancestral land and treat it as they did, with love, respect, and care. We hold this land to be a sacred space, and we humbly ask our Creator God, the Maker of Life, to create a covenant with the descendants of those who dwelled here in the past, leading to a channel of friendship and reconciliation, and a lasting peace.
