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Indigenous Peoples’ Day in MA: A Brief History

Author adam12
(Photo by Michael Springer/Getty Images)

What many grew up calling Columbus Day is now called Indigenous Peoples’ Day in MA. So how did that come about?

 

Believe it or not, the story goes all the way back to 1977. And it begins far away from the Commonwealth. That year, the United Nations sponsored the International Conference on Discrimination Against Indigenous Populations in the Americas. The Conference met in Geneva, Switzerland and began discussing replacing Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day in the Americas.

 

Then, in 1990, the First Continental Conference on 500 Years of Indian Resistance met in Quito, Ecuador. At that Conference, indigenous people from all over the Americas decided to use 1992–the 500th anniversary of the first voyages of Christopher Columbus–as a year to protest and to reeducate people on Columbus’ legacy of colonialism and the subsequent genocide of indigenous people. Heavy topics, to be sure. But an important part of world history to set right.

 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day in MA: A Brief History

The origins of Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a holiday actually lie in local governments. Berkeley, CA was the first city in America to rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples’ Day,  back in 1992. Two years later, Santa Cruz, CA followed suit. By 2014, cities and states across America were adopting the holiday. And in 2021, President Joe Biden formerly instituted the holiday with a presidential proclamation.

 

As of that same year, according to the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, over 20 municipalities in the Commonwealth have replaced Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day. Statewide legislation has yet to pass, and despite the presidential proclamation, it is not yet a federal holiday.

 

So now that you know the history of the day, get to know the history of the Indigenous People of the land you’re living on. The Mashpee Wompanoag are a great place to start.

Adam 12 is the Program Director of Boston's ROCK 92.9, heard weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. He's been flexing his encyclopedic rock knowledge in New England for over 2 decades, both on-air and online, at WBCN, WFNX, Boston.com, and indie617. At ROCK 92.9, he keeps you in the know on the big stories from the Boston music scene and writes about great places to eat, drink (beer), and to spend time outdoors in and around Boston.

The Best Massachusetts Apple Orchard is a Secret One

I visited the best Massachusetts apple orchard this year. And I’ll likely never get to pick apples there again.

 

Aside from swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, my all-time favorite New England activity is apple picking. Strolling idly between rows of apple trees, picking and eating Macs and Baldwins and Empires on a sunny autumn day…that’s my happy place. My kids roll their eyes and chuckle each October as we make our way to the local orchards. I’m like the stereotypical kid in a candy store.

 

Over the years, I’ve visited orchards all over the commonwealth. Hell, I’ve written songs about apple picking. My three faves are actually all within miles of each other. I love Bolton Spring Farm because it’s massive and there are lots of hills and areas to explore and pick. Shelburne Farm is fab, too, with tons of varieties and a stocked apple shop. But Carver Hill Orchard is my favorite.

 

The Best Massachusetts Apple Orchard is a Secret One

Carver Hill is smaller than its neighbors, which I like. I took my youngest there recently for the first time in a few years and was excited to see so many people there. When we got to the front of the line to purchase our half-peck bag for picking, the clerk informed me that, due to the insane weather conditions earlier in the year, the orchard was only picking two varieties.

 

Then she slid me a slip of paper and blew my mind.

 

Carver Hill had another orchard. A secret orchard. Just miles up the road, not open to the public, with a half-dozen varieties to choose from. Because of the extenuating circumstances, they were opening the orchard for picking, but only for this season. A once-in-a-lifetime experience. I was beside myself with autumnal glee. My kiddo was rolling eyes and chuckling.

 

This is public knowledge, by the way. Carver Hill is spreading the word on their Facebook page. So pay them a visit this season and support a local orchard that got dealt a blow by Mother Nature. Like me, you’ll get to brag for years to come that you got to pick apples in a secret orchard that was only open to the public for one season. And that’s a pretty cool thing.

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