BROOKLINE — The Town of Brookline will hold its annual Indigenous Peoples Day celebration on Monday, October 14, from 1-4 p.m. at the Brookline Health Building, located at 11 Pierce Street in Brookline Village. The annual event, organized by the Town’s Indigenous Peoples Celebration Committee (IPCC) and launched in 2019, celebrates Indigenous culture, history, and contemporary issues.
According to the IPCC’s website, since its inception, the IPCC has been creating programs and fostering conversations that honor Indigenous history and culture by partnering with local Indigenous vendors and organizations, providing information on the Massachusetts legislative agenda, and offering education on the history of Brookline.
This year’s celebration, themed “Indigenous Past, Present, and Future,” will feature a speaking program at the Peace Garden Podium, with topics ranging from the Sydney Act of 1924 to the creation of land acknowledgments. The event will also discuss the future of environmental and resource management, offering insights from Indigenous perspectives.
Speakers include Kailey Bennett, a Brookline resident and Cherokee Nation citizen; Dr. Asa Sevelius, Principal of Roland Hayes School; and Kristen Wyman, a member of the Nipmuc tribe and co-founder of Eastern Woodlands Rematriation. Felina Silver, a Brookline resident of Cherokee lineage and Chair of the IPCC, will perform an original poetry reading and lead a reading of the land acknowledgment.
The event will also feature local Indigenous vendors and organizations, with craft goods for sale and free food provided by Native Kitchen, an Indigenous-owned business in Medway. Additionally, local organizations will offer resources about the Massachusetts legislative agenda and Indigenous social and environmental actions throughout the state.
The Indigenous Peoples Celebration Committee has been organizing this annual event since 2019, working to promote Indigenous culture, foster dialogue, and support local Indigenous businesses. This year’s program will be held both indoors and outdoors, and the speaking portion will be recorded by Brookline Interactive Group.
For accommodations, language access, or any questions, community members can contact Caitlin Starr at cstarr@brooklinema.gov or 617-730-2345.
