Today, as many states and cities (including Boston) commemorate Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Hingham Unity Council acknowledges that we reside on the traditional land of the Massachusett peoples past and present, and honor with gratitude the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. Let us be aware that Indigenous People continue to live in this region despite the legacy of colonialism that continues to impact them and this land. Let us strive to increase our understanding and celebrate the continuing contributions of these People to the life of this region.
A written acknowledgment is only the beginning. The HUC hopes to inspire others to reflect more deeply, today and always, on the history of the land we live on, and, as we move forward, we intend to present programming to further this dialogue and action to oppose continuing oppression of Native communities across the US.
A few resources for those who would like to learn a bit more right now:
- A guide to land acknowledgments from the Native Governance Center
- Massachusett territory page from Native Land Digital
- An article from Smithsonian Magazine on Rethinking How We Celebrate American History
- Massachusetts Tribe Website
- For talking with children:
- A resource from PBS on How to Honor Indigenous Peoples With Your Kids
- A resource from Education.com on Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Young Children
- Sign the petition to Stop the Line 3 Pipeline