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Since 2016, the second Monday of October has been celebrated as Indigenous Peoples Day in recognition of the culture, history, and diversity of Native American People's, and their continued contributions to the vibrancy and vitality of our society. This name change is part of a growing movement across the country to change the narrative of history towards a recognition of the survival, resilience, diversity, and strength of Indigenous Peoples, who are among us as residents in Massachusetts and indeed across New England, the United States, and the world.
Below is a list of Indigenous Peoples Day events in Cambridge and the region. Be sure to check back as new events are announced!
Saturday, October 12, through Monday, October 14, 9:00am-5:00pm
Peabody Museum, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave
In a program marking Cambridge's Indigenous People's Day, eight Native American poets may be heard reading their work in the Peabody Museum galleries. Visitors may enrich their museum visit by listening to an evocative playlist of contemporary poems by Native American authors.
Monday, October 14, 10:00am-5:00pm
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Enjoy free admission and special events at the MFA for Indigenous Peoples’ Day—and the Fenway Alliance’s 18th annual Opening Our Doors Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes and celebrates the heritage of Native Americans and the histories of their nations and communities. Enjoy music and dance, take a tour of our Native North American Art Gallery and respond to our collection, and drop in on family art-making activities and artist demonstrations.
Monday, October 14, 2:00-4:00pm
Harvard Yard, Matthews Hall
The undergraduate group Native Americans at Harvard College (NAHC) is hosting Indigenous Peoples Day observance in Harvard Yard in front of Matthews Hall.
Monday, October 14, 7:00-8:30pm
Harvard Science Center, 1 Oxford St, Hall C
As part of the 2019 Science and Cooking Public Lecture Series, Freddie Bitsoie (2013 winner of the Native Chef Competition) will lead a discussion on "Hominy and Posole: The Science of Native American Cooking."
Friday, October 18, 5:30-7:30pm
Cambridge City Hall
From a historic genocide trial and the organized defense of the land to the overthrow of a corrupt President, "500 Years" tells a sweeping story of resistance in Guatemala's recent history through the actions and perspectives of the majority Indigenous Mayan population, who now stand poised to re-imagine their society. Official Selection of 2017 Sundance Film Festival.
Friday, October 18, 7:00-9:00pm
Cambridge City Hall
To wrap up the week, the Mayor's Office is hosting a City Hall Cypher, a collaboration with the Arts Council, City Manager's Office, and Hip-Hop Collective. The Cypher will feature a diverse group of rappers who have roots in the Cambridge community, and will also be an opportunity to highlight artists for Hispanic Heritage Month. A food truck will also be available onsite.
Thursday, October 24, 6:30-8:30pm
Main Library, Lecture Hall
Join us for a special lecture commemorating National Indigenous Peoples' Month with author Joan Naviyuk Kane. Joan Naviyuk Kane is Inupiaq with family from King Island (Ugiuvak) and Mary’s Igloo, Alaska. She is the author of seven collections of poetry and prose, most recently Another Bright Departure (2019). She is the 2019-2020 Hilles Bush Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and in 2018 was the first indigenous recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship in Poetry. She is on the faculty of the low-residency MFA program in creative writing at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The Cambridge Public Library has compiled a list of books for children, teens, and adults who want to learn more about indigenous history and culture.
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