This exhibition acknowledges and appreciates the fact that Amherst college is built within the ancestral homelands of the Nonotuck peoples. We also recognize our present-day neighboring indigenous nations: the Nipmuc and the Wampanoag to the East, the Mohegan, Pequot, and Narragansett to the South, the Mohican and Mohawk to the West, and the Abenaki to the North. Finally, we acknowledge and celebrate that Indigenous people continue to live here in the Kwinitekw Valley among us.

I am profoundly grateful to all the  individuals and institutions whose support was indispensable in the creation of this exhibit.

First and foremost, my primary advisors, Thea Kristensen and Douglas Culhane, deserve special thanks for their unwavering support throughout the development of my interdisciplinary major. Their invaluable assistance in crafting ideas, managing the feasibility of the exhibit, and continuous critique and advising have been fundamental to my success. Their roles as support systems and mentors have profoundly shaped both the academic and practical aspects of my work.

Olivia Feal has been instrumental in supporting my academic progress; her meticulous proofreading and editing have greatly enhanced the clarity and impact of my exhibit.

Sarah Buhl and Jess Martin have been especially supportive, enthusiastic about my work, and instrumental in coordinating the logistics of my exhibit within the science center.

I extend my gratitude to Lucia Monge, Brian House, and Sarah Bunnell for their guidance and support of my major, offering critical advice that helped shape both the content of my exhibit and my broader academic wellbeing.

I owe a great deal to the Art Department staff, particularly Seth Koen and Heather Ruggeri, for resolving logistical challenges and continuously supporting my major and exhibit. 

I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Amherst College Art & the History of Art Department for their invaluable support of my interdisciplinary major. Their generosity in providing access to essential supplies, their insightful critiques and advice on my thesis, and their warm warm welcome as a student not formally part of the department have been crucial to my academic and creative journey. Their commitment to supporting interdisciplinary education has profoundly enriched my experience and this project.

The financial support from Alpha Delta Phi has been crucial; this thesis exhibit would not have been possible without their generous funding.

The Committee on Academic Standing and Special Majors deserves recognition for their approval of my interdisciplinary major, enabling me to pursue my unique academic path.

My peers in the Art thesis cohort—Cece Amory, August Nascimento, Kendall Greene, and Isaac Streiff—have provided a welcoming community and valuable advice on exhibit contents.

To my friends Elizabeth Zhang, Frida Hernandez, Sara Zhu, Briana Cajamarca, Joy Johnson & Callie Hundley, thank you for your support, advice, and practical help in crafting various aspects of the exhibit. Your encouragement has been a source of strength and inspiration.