Salem Unveils First Slate Of Indigenous Peoples Day Events

SALEM, MA — Salem is planning a full slate of free events this weekend — and throughout the month — to celebrate the city's first Indigenous Peoples Day.

The Salem City Council voted 6-5 two weeks ago to adopt the warrant declaring the second Monday in October — which is also Columbus Day — as Indigenous Peoples Day, as a time to reflect upon and honor the city's original residents.

Those City Councilors who voted against the proposal all said they believed in the worthiness of an Indigenous Peoples Day, but wanted additional time to determine if that day might best be celebrated in a different month when it was not the same day as Columbus Day.

The slate of activities includes:

Learn the history: The Jonathan Corwin House (“Witch House”) and Pioneer Village: Salem in 1630 jointly launch The Naumkeag, an online exhibit exploring the history, culture, and legacy of the Indigenous peoples of Naumkeag. Find it online starting Friday at www.thewitchhouse.org and www.pioneervillagesalem.org.

Honor the land: the Salem Beautification Committee invites residents to join them in a clean-up along Lafayette Street starting at noon on Saturday. Meet at the Lafayette Street/Dodge Street intersection. To ensure the health of all participating, volunteers should use their own bag, tools and gloves for this event. Those participating are strongly urged to wear a mask.

Honor the land II: the Salem Beautification Committee invites residents to participate in a community-wide litter clean-up effort in their own neighborhood on Sunday. To ensure safe distancing, residents are encouraged to use their own bag to clean up litter in their neighborhood, then either dispose of the bag into your own trash toter or contact the Department of Public Services at 978-744-3302 to arrange for it to be picked up. Those participating are strongly urged to wear a mask.

Hear the voices: Elizabeth Solomon of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag shares greetings from the Tribe and a Land Acknowledgement reading on Monday. After, Annawon Weeden of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Nation speaks about the history of the Mashpee Wampanoag and the cultural influences, contributions, and legacy of the Northeast Woodlands tribes. The presentation will be available online at www.thewitchhouse.org and www.pioneervillagesalem.org and broadcast on Salem Access TV.

Celebrate the legacy: Pioneer Village invites all members of the community to participate in the Naumkeag Circle community art project throughout the month of October, celebrating the legacy and history of the Indigenous peoples of Salem. Bring a stone to the Village and add it to the circle near the Naumkeag exhibit site. Stones can be plain, decorated, or written upon with messages for members of the Indigenous community, and should fit in the palm of your hand. Once completed, the Naumkeag Circle will be used to share stories and performances from the local Indigenous community and from cultures from around the world. Pioneer Village is open to the public from noon to 5 p.m. seven days a week throughout October.

Peabody Essex Museum Indigenous Peoples Day: For the first time, the Peabody Essex Museum is offering virtual programming in honor of our first Indigenous Peoples Day. The rich histories and vibrant communities of this ancestral territory where the Peabody Essex Museum now sits include the Pawtucket, Pennacook, Massachuset, Nipmuc, and Wampanoag communities, and Indigenous people from many nations live and work in this region today. Please join us in honoring these communities, and their continued creativity and resiliency. Learn more and register at here.

More Patch Coverage: Salem City Council Passes Indigenous Peoples' Day Ordinance