Events to Learn about Indigenous Peoples

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!

Upcoming

There are no upcoming events.

Past Events

When the Land Speaks: An Untold History and Living Presence of the Indigenous of Massachusetts; and the Importance of Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day

Date: 2022-10-09
Time: 18:00 - 19:00
Location: Virtual event
Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley website logo

The Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley, WOW is honored to welcome back Native American Cultural Educator, Larry Spotted Crow Mann of the Nipmuc Nation. Please join us as this award winning speaker details the untold history and continued presence of Indigenous Peoples in what is presently called Massachusetts. In advance of this year’s Indigenous Peoples Day on October 10th, the speaker will also detail why Indigenous Peoples Day should be a national day of remembrance, education and celebration.

Sponsored by The Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley, World of Wellesley

Myth Busting Thanksgiving

Date: 2021-11-22
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Zoom
Mythbusting Thanksgiving

The Committee for IPD Wellesley, World of Wellesley and Equal Justice in Needham for Families are excited to announce our virtual event: Myth Busting Thanksgiving on November 22, 2021 at 7:00PM EST! Kisha James (Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah and Oglala Lakota) will be debunking the settler narrative of Thanksgiving that remains pervasive in our classrooms and communities. The presentation will be followed by a live Q&A. ⁠

Automatic captions will be provided. This event is not appropriate for children.

Family Storytime with Carole Lindstrom (Anishinaabe/Metis, enrolled with Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe)

Date: 2021-10-11
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Zoom
IPD Celebration 2021

We are so excited to be sponsoring Equal Justice in Needham for Families’ storytime event on Indigenous Peoples Day, October 11, along with Wellesley Free Library! New York Times bestselling author Carole Lindstrom (Anishinaabe/Metis, enrolled with Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe) will be reading her children’s book We Are Water Protectors inspired by Standing Rock and all Indigenous Peoples fighting for clean water. The reading will be followed by an interactive Q&A and activities to learn about ways to protect the Earth and our waters in everyday life. The event will be held on Zoom and will have ASL interpretation.⁠

When the Land Speaks: An Untold History of Massachusetts and the Importance of Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day

Date: 2021-09-29
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Zoom
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The Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley (WOW) and the Wellesley Public Library are excited to announce Wellesley’s first event to celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day this year! This virtual event will feature Larry Spotted Crow Mann of the Nipmuc tribe detailing the untold history of what is presently called Massachusetts and why Indigenous Peoples Day should be a national day of remembrance, education and celebration. Be sure to register in advance as spaces are limited!

National Day of Mourning 2020

Date: 2020-11-26
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Online
National Day of Mourning 2020

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.

Myth Busting Thanksgiving

Date: 2020-10-28
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Online
mythbusting thanksgiving

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.

Indigenous Peoples Day Virtual Film and Community Dialogue

Date: 2020-10-12
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Zoom
IPD film Lyla June

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.

Indigenous Peoples Day Land Clean Up

Start date: 2020-10-10
End date: 2020-10-12
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
IPD land clean up

Let’s honor Mother Earth by working together to clean up our town!

Join us this weekend for the 2nd Stewards of the Earth event where you will SAFELY gather with family, friends and neighbors and clean your neighborhood, local trails and ponds. The brook near Whole Foods is in need of our special attention. If you know of other high need spots, please post them to this event’s discussion board after signing up.
Please post photos of your clean up efforts on social media with the hashtags #indigenouspeoplesday #IPDcleanup #IPDwellesley and tag @worldofwellesley @ipdwellesley.
If you would like us to share your photos on the World of Wellesley or Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley websites, please send them to communications@worldofwellesley.org.

30 Day+ Racial Equity Indigenous Peoples Challenge

Start date: 2020-10-01
End date: 2020-10-30
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
IP Challenge

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:

  • Increasing our awareness and appreciation for the diversity of Indigenous people
  • Deepening our understanding about the history of Indigenous people
  • Deepen our understanding about the current issues faced by Indigenous people in North America

How it works:

  1. Sign up to receive a daily email through October 30th with three ways to access content each day (e.g. reading, watching or listening).
  2. Choose one or all of the suggested daily options. It’s all up to you. You may also add other options, if you choose.
  3. Reflect: Create your own copy of this journal template to privately record your thoughts.  Your journal will not be shared.
  4. Collaborate: If you want to share reflections in community, you may post them on our Racial Equity Indigenous Peoples Challenge padlet. Please follow our guidelines for all public reflection posts.

“Praying Town” Film and Discussion

Date: 2020-08-20
Time: 00:00 - 00:00
Location: Zoom
praying town
“Praying Town” is a documentary that explores the history of Natick’s Praying Indians tribe from the 1630’s to the Civil War. We will watch part one of the film will be followed by facilitated dialogue and discussion. Everyone is welcome and invited to continue to learn our history and deepen our understanding about the origins of white supremacy in this country.

Watch Documentary Trailer