On a beautiful spring afternoon, residents, staff, board members, and guests gathered in front of Saponi Place for its dedication. The newly constructed community building includes the Saponi Clubroom, Agnes Coble Chapel, and Saponi Fireside Room, serving as a space to gather, celebrate, worship, and mourn together. During the ceremony, we were reminded of the land’s profound historical significance, stewarded by the indigenous peoples of this region.
We were joined by honored guests from the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, including Tribal Council Elder Vickie Jeffries, who offered a customary “Welcome to the Land” during the ceremony. The land upon which Saponi Place sits was once part of the territory of the Saponi people. The Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, whose ancestors have cared for this land in service to the Divine Creator, has generously allowed us to use the name “Saponi Place.” In doing so, we pay homage to the history, culture, and traditions of the Indigenous peoples who have lived here for countless generations.
As we dedicated Saponi Place, we acknowledged not only the history of the Saponi people but also that of the Eno, Tutelo, Occaneechi, Shakori, and other Indigenous peoples who have inhabited this region. Their contributions to the fabric of this land are immeasurable, and we stand in reverence to their elders—past, present, and emerging.
The Occaneechi people, known as the Ye’sah, remind us of the importance of this land and the responsibility we all share to treat it with the same love, respect, and care that their ancestors showed. This dedication was not merely a symbolic gesture; it was a call to action. It reminded us that as we gather, celebrate, and mourn in this place, we must do so with an awareness of the history that precedes us and the generations that will follow.
This space is for all to gather—a place of connection, healing, and respect. May we hold it in reverence, keeping the teachings of the Ye’sah in our hearts as we move together into the future.
