Christopher Columbus Statue
At this site, you will watch a video describing Native perspectives of Columbus Day and Indigenous Peoples' Day. From 1979 to 2020, there was a Christopher Columbus statue on this site (formerly called Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park) that was often a source of community protest. What were the reasons for eracting a statue of Christopher Columbus in Boston in the 1970s? Why might a Christopher Columbus statue at this place be troubling or problematic? Why might the events of 2020 challenge community members to rethink its placement and existence?Next, you can read more below about the controversy surrounding the statue, as well as the movement to establish Indigenous Peoples' Day in the city of Boston (it is still officially Columbus Day statewide).City of Boston Columbus Statue website: https://www.boston.gov/departments/arts-and-culture/christopher-columbus-statueBoston Magazine article: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/06/10/christopher-columbus-statue-beheaded/Mass Live article: https://www.masslive.com/boston/2020/10/beheaded-christopher-columbus-statue-not-returning-to-north-end-will-move-to-new-boston-location.htmlCity of Boston Indigenous Peoples' Day Mayoral Executive Order: https://www.boston.gov/news/mayor-janey-establishes-indigenous-peoples-day-bostonNational Museum of the American Indian article on Indigenous Peoples' Day: https://americanindian.si.edu/nk360/informational/columbus-day-mythsZinn Education Project resources on Indigenous Peoples' Day: https://www.zinnedproject.org/campaigns/abolish-columbus-day/resources/MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda bill to create Indigenous Peoples' Day in Massachusetts: http://maindigenousagenda.org/indigenous-peoples-day/
Old State House: Massachusetts State Seal and Flag
At this site, you will watch a video describing Native perspectives of the Massachusetts state seal and flag. When you arrive at the Washington Street (west) side of the Old State House, take a moment to look up. At the top of the building, you will see the original seat of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. For a closer look, click here: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Seal_of_the_Massachusetts_Bay_Colony.svgHow is the Native person depicted? What is he saying? This was a symbol created not by Indigenous people, but settler-colonists. Why might they have chosen these words and imagery? Next, you can read more below about attempts to change the state seal and flag.Special Commission on the Official Seal and Motto of the Commonwealth: https://malegislature.gov/Commissions/Detail/565Change the Mass Flag Organization: https://changethemassflag.com/WBUR article: https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/05/19/special-commission-votes-to-create-a-new-massachusetts-state-seal-and-mottoMass Live article: https://www.masslive.com/politics/2022/09/state-seal-and-motto-commission-still-exploring-new-options-for-mass-no-decision-made-yet.html
Fenway Park
At this site, you will watch a video describing Native perspectives of Native mascots, and specifically the history of the Washington R**skins football team, which changed their name from the Braves when they moved to Fenway Park in 1933. When you arrive at the site of Fenway Park, think about the following questions: Why would sports franchises owned by white people choose Native mascots (and specifically use racial epithets in those names)? What does that tell us about how settler-colonialism operates well beyond initial contact between Native people and settlers?Next, the Washington football team long defended its mascot choice by stating that it was named after one of their former coaches, who was Native (and led the team when they were in Boston) and honored American Indians. Take a moment to read this article from the Denver Post on the topic, which explains the myth behind this explanation: https://www.denverpost.com/2013/11/07/is-the-redskins-history-based-on-a-lie/Then read this article from Indian Country Today on the real James One Star and how a white football player and later coach likely took his identity and "posed as an Indian" to advance his own career: https://ictnews.org/archive/reclaiming-james-one-star-part-one and https://ictnews.org/archive/reclaiming-james-one-star-part-twoFor more on the concept of "playing Indian," where white people appropriate Indianness as a form of Native erasure, conquest, and dispossession of Native peoples, see this book summary of Philip Deloria's "Playing Indian": https://www.degruyter.com/document/doi/10.12987/9780300153606/html?lang=enThen, read about the Washington's football teams resistance to racial integration in the 1950s and 1960s, which provides an example of how settler-colonialism often intersects with anti-Black racism: https://www.npr.org/2011/09/04/140066378/a-showdown-that-changed-footballs-racial-history
Braves Field Way: Boston Braves Baseball and Football Teams and the History of Native Mascots
At this site, you will watch a video describing Native perspectives of Native mascots, which essentially started in the city of Boston with the creation of the Boston Braves baseball and football teams. When you arrive at the site of the old Braves Field (now Boston University's Nickerson Field), think about the following questions. Why would sports franchises owned by white people choose Native mascots? What does that tell us about how settler-colonialism operates well beyond intiail contact between Native people and settlers?Next, here is an image of Braves Field, so you can draw comparisons to the present-day stadium. Feel free to walk around the site and explore the place. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Braves#/media/File:Fenway-park-1914-world-series.jpgNext, you can read more below about the history of Native mascots and efforts to prevent their usage.As discussed in the video, it was in 1941 that the Boston Braves created the racist characture of Chief Nakahoma (which also relates to the "tomahawk chop" done at games). Something that the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves continued. As recently as 2013, the Atlanta Braves attempted to depict the mascot on their uniforms: https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Daily/Issues/2013/01/04/Franchises/Braves.aspxNational Congress of American Indians statement on Native mascots: https://www.ncai.org/proudtobeFinally, there are over 20 teams in Massachusetts public schools that still use a Native mascot and the Massachusetts Indigenous Agenda is encourging all citizens to support legislation to ban the practice in this state: http://maindigenousagenda.org/native-mascots/
