WE OWN THIS NOW by Alison Brooks

You are invited to learn more about the Doctrine of Discovery through a 90-minute play about love of land, loss of land, and what it means to “own” something.

What: We Own This Now

When: Friday, March 17, 2023 at 7:00pm and Saturday, March 18, 2023 at 3:00pm

Where: Reba Place Church, 620 Madison St, Evanston, IL 60202

Tickets: Free admission. No reservations required. $10 Donation suggested.

The play, We Own This Now, speaks to an interfaith and racially diverse group. It looks at the history of the Doctrine of Discovery, and some of the ways that doctrine has influenced the way US culture is set up, what “ownership” means, how we came to be on the land we live/work/exist upon… which affects all of us. The show does stay focused on the Doctrine of Discovery and the impact and implications for Indigenous people – it does not get into related material around slavery and forced labor history.

IMPORTANT NOTE TO INDIGENOUS ATTENDEES: You may have a variety of experiences in watching. The producers want to be clear that this play is written towards educating a settler audience. Some Indigenous attendees have been moved by the performance and thanked the producers for doing the work of bring awareness to this history, others have been triggered by some scenes (esp. around boarding schools) and wished they had known ahead of time so they could have chosen not to attend, and a variety of additional responses in between.