Towards Right Relations

Towards Right Relations is an outreach and engagement initiative that aims to foster reciprocal relationships with Lenape communities and Indigenous communities who have historically resided or currently reside within Lenapehoking. With specific focuses on resource distribution, education, and representation, we aim to collaborate with artists, community organizers, and partner organizations to directly support these communities and expand the cultural awareness of our gallery.

Resource distribution is a critical component of our efforts to nurture and sustain reciprocity. As we continue to establish relationships with Indigenous communities, a core objective is to develop recurrent funding and support for Lenape artists, Indigenous artists working in Lenapehoking, and organizations supporting these communities. Education is additionally important as we seek to improve the cultural literacy of our gallery staff and community. Internally, we plan to establish a Lenape history curriculum to implement for recurrent staff workshops and trainings starting in 2023. Externally, we are focused on inaugurating art workshops for Indigenous youth and early career Indigenous artists, beginning in 2023. As we implement these programs, we will continue to advocate for increased representation of Indigenous artists through our channels and directly engage with communities to determine additional ways to support Indigenous artists’ careers.

Towards Right Relations began with the development of a formal Land Acknowledgement for Pace’s Chelsea galleries. Co-organized and facilitated by independent consultant Dioganhdih Hall (Mohawk of Akwesasne), this initiative included artists Nadema Agard (Cherokee/Lakota/Powhatan), Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock), and River Whittle (Caddo/Lenape), who collaborated in a series of working sessions over several months in 2022. The Land Acknowledgement, which emerged from those sessions, functions as a living document meant to guide and strengthen tangible action steps as we continue to deepen our relationships with Indigenous communities.