Land Acknowledgement
Whose Land Are We On?
The land on which the town of Easthampton has been built is the unceded homelands of the Pocumtuc, Nipmuc, and Nonotuck people. Surrounding us are the homelands of the Wampanoag to the East, the Mohegan and Pequot to the South, the Mohican to the West, and the Abenaki to the North.
Indigenous culture and connection to this land is not something merely rooted in the past. It is a rich and vibrant part of our present and future. Members of each of these Indigenous nations are alive and shaping our community today.
How Can I Learn About Whose Land I Live On?
There are many resources to learn about whose homelands you are currently living on. One such resource is Native Land Digital. Native Land Digital strives to create and foster conversations about the history of colonialism, Indigenous ways of knowing, and settler-Indigenous relations, through educational resources. Native Land Digital is Indigenous-led, with an Indigenous Executive Director and a majority Indigenous Board of Directors who oversee and direct the organization. You can search your location on their map to learn about the (often) many Indigenous nations whose homelands you inhabit.
Another resource is The Decolonial Atlas. The Decolonial Atlas is a volunteer-run project, cultivating a growing collection of maps that, in some way, help to challenge our relationships with the land, people, and state.
What Resources Can Support Me In Learning About Indigenous Culture, History, and Resistance?
There are numerous resources that have been made by Indigenous people to teach about culture, history, and resistance throughout Turtle Island (North America). The following books are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but rather a beginning point in ongoing learning.
An Indigenous People’s History of the United States by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
As We Have Always Done: Indigenous Freedom Through Radical Resistance by Leanne Betasmosake Simpson
Red Skin, White Masks: Rejecting the Colonial Politics of Recognition by Glen Sean Coulthard
How Can I Take Action To Support Indigenous People Now?
There are currently 5 bills passing through the Massachusetts legislature dealing with the rights and dignity of Indigenous nations. These bills address 5 priorities:
Remove Racist Mascots
Honor Indigenous People’s Day
Celebrate and Teach Native American Cultures and History
Protect Native American Heritage
Support the Education & Futures of Native Youth
To learn more about each of these bills, as well as stay involved with legislative action to support Indigenous people throughout the state of Massachusetts, please visit: MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda.