SWAMPSCOTT — For the first time in the town’s history, the Select Board read a proclamation commemorating Monday, Oct. 9 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day at their most recent meeting.
In 2021, President Joe Biden officially commemorated Indigenous Peoples’ Day to pay homage to the resilience of Native Americans throughout history and celebrate the vibrant cultures and traditions of Tribal Nations throughout the U.S. and its territories.
Since then, cities and towns throughout the nation have increasingly recognized the unofficial holiday alongside Columbus Day, which marks the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ arrival in the Americas in 1492.
Although it was officially commemorated in 2021, the holiday was first proposed as a replacement for Columbus Day as early as 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations at the United Nations-sponsored International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas.
“For the first time in our town’s history, we recognize Indigenous people here and anywhere in the United States as we pay respect to the cultures and populations that existed long before European contact with the land. So too, we celebrate the contributions of all Indigenous people to the culture of diversity, innovation and resilience that has had an indelible impact on the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Select Board member MaryEllen Fletcher read.
Reading from the town’s proclamation, Select Board Chair David Grishman said the town wished to commemorate those who lived for centuries on the land now known as Swampscott.
“Instead of commemorating conquest today here in the Town of Swampscott, we recognize our history. And since time immemorial, people indigenous to the lands we now call Swampscott built communities, fostered cultures and stewarded the land sustainably,” Grishman said. “Swampscott is committed to protecting and advocating for justice, human rights and the dignity of all people who live, work and visit our community, and to supporting the principles contained in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.”
Select Board member Doug Thompson wrapped up the reading of the proclamation by encouraging all local organizations and businesses to commemorate the holiday.
“On behalf of the entire Select Board, we do hereby proclaim Oct. 9, 2023 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day in the Town of Swampscott, Massachusetts and encourage all faith-based and nonprofit organizations, residents, businesses and public institutions to acknowledge, honor, value and celebrate Indigenous peoples’ historic and current contributions locally and beyond, while also recognizing the ongoing interconnected struggles of all Indigenous communities locally and beyond.”
