Indigenous Peoples have been caretaking these lands since time immemorial, and we are still here. The Thanksgiving myth is harmful because it erases the truth of what was done to the Wampanoag and every other tribe after them.
In honor of Indigenous Peoples, the Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley is excited to offer the Honor Indigenous Peoples Day yard sign! This sign to be displayed on your yard is part of the movement to honor Indigenous Peoples by voting YES on Question #1 in Wellesley’s Annual Town Election on March 2, 2021.
That the Town of Wellesley, with the understanding that since 1977 Indigenous people of our country have requested Indigenous Peoples Day as a recognition of their humanity, culture and history and with the understanding that our country was built on Native lands, shall join the growing number of cities, towns, and states that have chosen to honor this request. Town Meeting shall go on record to state that the Town of Wellesley, on the second Monday of October, will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day as the official holiday and that the Town of Wellesley shall cease to recognize Columbus Day as a publicly sanctioned holiday in Wellesley. See complete warrant.
World of Wellesley, together with community members, put forth Citizen’s Petition 42 to Support the Establishment of Indigenous Peoples Day in Wellesley.
Wellesley’s Advisory Committee voted 8-2 in favor of this petition and Town Meeting voted 63% in favor but first added an amendment requiring a town-wide vote.
Indigenous Peoples Day will be on the ballot in March 2021. We need your help to educate our community about this important vote!
We as people who reside, work, and engage in Wellesley acknowledge this town is located on the traditional territory of the Massachusett Tribe. Learn more about Native Land.
Testimony for Citizens Petition to honor Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day starts around 1:49 (or click link below).
Indigenous Peoples have been caretaking these lands since time immemorial, and we are still here. The Thanksgiving myth is harmful because it erases the truth of what was done to the Wampanoag and every other tribe after them.
Read, Watch, and Act – do two items from each category! Increase our awareness and appreciation for the diversity of Indigenous people, deepen our understanding
The entry into mainstream discourse of systemic racism should be a call to action. So, while it is just one step, let’s repurpose Oct. 12.
Testimony submitted at Wellesley Advisory Committee Meeting on January 22, 2020. Dear Advisory Committee Members, I am a person of Italian descent and a co-founder
I want to add my voice to those who support Indigenous Peoples Day because it will provide us — all of us, including our children
“Out of all the things World of Wellesley could be focusing on, why support a citizen’s petition to rename Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day
We’re planning multiple events and family friendly activities to celebrate the many indigenous communities across Massachusetts and the country; and commemorate their shared history and culture. Wellesley will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day on October 12th and 14th. Please save the dates!
There are no upcoming events.
The livestream and pre-recorded content for the National Day of Mourning on November 26 can be viewed beginning at approximately 12 noon EST via the United American Indians of New England (UAINE) website, at the UAINE facebook group, on Youtube, and at the hate5six website.
If you plan to have your students learn and write about Thanksgiving, this webinar will help you teach this topic with greater accuracy and sensitivity. Kisha James, enrolled member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gayhead Aquinnah and Oglala Lakota and the grand-daughter of Wamsutta James, will cover common myths. Dr. Debbie Reese, tribally enrolled, Nambé Pueblo, will share recommendations for books and curricular materials. Hear advice on materials selection and suggestions for teaching Thanksgiving with cultural sensitivity. See examples of possible Thanksgiving writing tasks, and hear them critiqued.
This event is offered by our partners.
Please join us for a short film presenting Lyla June, an Indigenous environmental scientist, educator, community organizer and musician. Lyla June, who is of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne) and European lineage is from Taos New Mexico. She inspires personal, collective and ecological healing through her multi-genre presentations on the topics of climate crisis, Indigenous rights, inter-cultural healing, and traditional land stewardship practices. After the short film there will be a community discussion.
Let’s honor Mother Earth by working together to clean up our town!
World of Wellesley is proud to launch the 30 Day+ Racial Equity Indigenous Peoples Challenge aimed at breaking down barriers and biases by collectively and individually:
How it works:
Please join the World of Wellesley in honoring Indigenous Peoples Day with a children and family event that will explore Indigenous culture, traditions, and history. Professional educator Claudia Fox Tree, M.Ed. (Arawak/Yurumein), will lead our engagement together with a presentation centered on Native American (First Nations People) identity, culture, and history. Indigenous food options and pizza will be served. Opening ceremony begins at 11:00 AM. FREE and open to the public.
See video clips and photos from this event.
The World of Wellesley invites the community to join for this special presentation.
Annawon Weeden explains that “Wampanoag means ‘People of the First Light’ due to our geographic location as the furthest eastern tribe.” Born and raised in the tribal community of Charlestown, R.I., among relatives of both Narragansett/Pequot lineage through his father, Annawon now resides in his mother’s Wampanoag community in Mashpee. Following in his father’s footsteps, Annawon began sharing the culture of his tribes with his family during public programs and performances at a young age. As an adult, Annawon’s passion for preserving the culture has been clear throughout decades spent working at Plymouth Plantation as a museum interpreter and outreach educator, as well as the Boston Children’s Museum as a Native program specialist. He has also been invited to visit Wellesley Public Schools over 20 times.
This program is free and open to the public, made possible by Wellesley business sponsors in this year’s program book. Pre-registration is encouraged.
Please bring your family and neighbors for a walk honoring Mother Earth and clean-up around the pond. We will meet at Longfellow Pond on Oakland Street (parking lot by the pond) and decide the route together. All supplies will be available including gloves and bags.
Co-Sponsored by Sustainable Wellesley.
Join us for a community viewing and discussion of Sheldon Wolfchild and Steven Newcomb’s film ‘The Doctrine of Discovery: Unmasking the Domination Code.”
This film sheds light on how documents written during the fifteenth century influenced doctrines of “ultimate dominion” that are used against native nations to this day. The film is 60 minutes long. FREE and open to the public.
In partnership with Wellesley Free Library.
The Wellesley Board of Selectmen will hold a public forum during its regular meeting on Monday, April 29, 2019 at 7:00 pm at Town Hall to begin consideration of a request from World of Wellesley to change Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
Please make every effort to attend this public forum. The Board of Selectman have planned this first community opportunity to hear our voices in support of Indigenous Peoples Day. We need ALL of our voices to be heard, stories to be told and connections to be made. Your support is needed now and and we ask that you commit to attend and share in the support of honoring Indigenous Peoples Day in Wellesley.
Email
info@worldofwellesley.org
Phone
781-591-7133
Address
P.O. Box 812381
Wellesley, MA 02482
© 2020 World of Wellesley
