10/11/2026
Happy Indigenous Peoples' Day!
This day highlights the ongoing civil rights, cultural contributions, and persistence of Indigenous communities despite centuries of violence, displacement, and forced assimilation. The idea was first proposed at a United Nations conference in 1977 to address discrimination against Natives and South Dakota became the first state to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day officially celebrating it in 1990.
📣 3 ways to honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day
✨(1) Educate Yourself & Amplify Indigenous Voices: Learn about Indigenous communities in the U.S. and their local tribal histories.
• Learn Local History: Research the specific Native nations land you live on or visit.
In Massachusetts, long before European colonization and ethnic cleansing, this land was home to tens of thousands of Native Peoples from many tribes and nations. Some of these prominent tribes include the Massachusett, the Pokantoket (or Wampanoag), the Nipmuc, the Pawtucket (or Pennacook), the Agawam, the Mahican, the Naumkeag and the Pocumtuck.
Visit https://native-land.ca/ to learn more about the Indigenous territories, treaties, and languages spoken in your state.
• Diversify Media: Read books, listen to podcasts, watch films and engage in various forms of media produced and led by Indigenous authors, artists, journalists and educators. Be sure to also follow Indigenous activists on social media.
Avoid Erasure and Stereotypes: Remove anti-Indigenous language, redface, and harmful sports mascots from your lexicon and community spaces.
✨(2) Celebrate: Join marches and museum programs to honor Native American history and culture.
📆 Major Events and Celebrations (October 10–12, 2026)
• Arlington Celebration (Oct 10): A free, all-ages townwide gathering at the Arlington Masonic Temple featuring traditional music and educational performances by the Red Hawk Singers and Dancers.
• Boston Common March (Oct 10): An annual public gathering and march honoring the heritage and history of Native American nations.
• Watertown Celebration (Oct 11): The town's fifth annual celebration hosted from 12:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the Hosmer Elementary School (1 Concord Road) with free family-friendly Indigenous presentations.
• Newton 6th Annual Ceremonial Celebration (Oct 12): An Indigenous-led, volunteer-run event from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM at Albemarle Field (250 Albemarle Rd., Newton) offering cultural dances, music, food, and local Native vendor booths.
• Framingham Celebration (Oct 12): An event themed "Rich Traditions, Honored Voices" from 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM on the campus of Edwards Church (39 Edwards Street, Framingham).
📆 Museum Open Houses and Free Admission Days
• Museum of Fine Arts (Boston): Offers free general admission on October 12, featuring special explorations of Native American art in the Art of the Americas Wing and traditional music performances.
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (Boston): Hosts Indigenous Peoples' Day: Native Roots from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on October 12, highlighting storytelling, art-making, and indigenous plants in the museum's courtyard.
• Massachusetts Historical Society (Boston): Hosts an Opening Our Doors program from 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM on October 12 in collaboration with neighborhood cultural institutions.
• Worcester Art Museum: Offers free admission on October 12 for special Indigenous Peoples' Day programming from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
• Heritage Museums & Gardens (Sandwich): Offers free admission for Indigenous people on October 12 from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
✨(3) Support Indigenous Communities
• Shop at Native-owned businesses: Native-owned businesses in Massachusetts span food, arts, crafts, and specialty services, with many connected to the Wampanoag nations. This is a listing of Aquinnah Wampanoag owned businesses in Massachusetts: https://wampanoagtribe-nsn.gov/business-listing.
• Donate to Indigenous-Led Nonprofits & Advocacy Groups
➡️ Legal and Sovereignty Rights: Support the Native American Rights Fund (NARF), which provides legal defense for tribes and individuals. https://narf.org/support-us/
➡️ Cultural Preservation & Repatriation: Back the Association on American Indian Affairs in protecting sacred items, language recovery, and sovereignty. www.indian-affairs.org
➡️Social and Women's Welfare: Support groups like the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center or the Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women. www.niwrc.org
➡️ Support Land and Environmental Protection: Back Indigenous-led environmental and "Land Back" initiatives that protect sacred sites and natural resources from extractive industries, such as the Indigenous Environmental Network. https://tinyurl.com/land-back-initiatives
