Arts/Outreach/Indigenous

Please follow this link to the new working group page for Decolonize to Liberate.

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Next Meeting:

Friday December 30, 2011, 5:00 PM

Christ Church Cambridge

0 Garden St.  (right near Harvard Square)

Contact decolonizeboston[at]gmail.com with any questions or to help

If you would like to join the working group list-serve and have or don't mind creating a google account, please follow this link.

Otherwise, email a request for membership to the above email, and we will send you an invite.

Follow us on Twitter!: @DecolonizeBos

Check out our new Decolonize Boston resource page!  Links, articles, videos and 'zines!

Many thanks to all who were able to join us in Plymouth for the 42nd National Day of Mourning! 

The Boston Globe produced an article and a video about our visit to Plymouth. 

You can read the article,"In Solidarity, Occupy Group Joins with Native Americans"  also a video, "Occupy Boston Protesters in Plymouth" 

A member of the working group was also interviewed in a Democracy Now! special:

Native Americans Mark Day of Mourning on Thanksgiving: 'We are not Vanishing, We Are Not Conquered'

[note:  this wiki page is a temporary landing page for decolonizeboston.org - Pending collaboration with related working groups and other entities, the domain will direct to a collaborative site networking and connecting various efforts to "Decolonize the 99%"  If you are interested in collaborating in this effort, please contact the working group at decolonizeboston[at]gmail.com]

Occupy Boston - Memorandum of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples
The following resolution was passed by the Occupy Boston General Assembly on October 8th, 2011:

RESOLUTION: Memorandum of Solidarity with Indigenous Peoples

WHEREAS, those participating in “Occupy Boston” acknowledge that the United States of America is a colonial country, and that we are guests upon stolen indigenous land that has already been occupied for centuries, Boston being the ancestral land of the Massachusett people; and

WHEREAS, members of the First Nations have continued to resist the violent oppression and exploitation of the colonizers since they first arrived on this continent, and as a result have a great amount of experience that could strengthen this movement; and

WHEREAS, after centuries of disregard for the welfare of future generations, and the consistent disrespect and exploitation of the Earth, we find ourselves on a polluted and disturbed planet, lacking the wisdom to live sustainably at peace with the community of Life; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That we seek the involvement of the First Nations in the rebuilding of a new society on their ancestral land; and

As a signal to the national “Occupy” movement and to members of First Nations who have felt excluded by the colonialist language used to name this movement, it shall be declared that “Occupy Boston” aspires to “Decolonize Boston” with the guidance and participation of First Nations Peoples; and

Extending an open hand of humility and friendship, we hereby invite members of the First Nations to join us in this popular uprising now taking place across this continent. We wish to further the process of healing and reconciliation and implore Indigenous Peoples to share their wisdom and guidance, as they see fit, so as to help us restore true freedom and democracy and initiate a new era of peace and cooperation that will work for everyone, including the Earth and the original inhabitants of this land; and

We hereby declare that Columbus Day should be referred to as “Indigenous Peoples’ Day.”

The Occupy Movement and Ancient Prophecies

Charles Laster, a Native American of Cherokee descent, noted the following in an open letter on facebook:

I was in full support of the Occupy Movement, for a number of reasons. Some of which was that their goals were in harmony with my views as a Native American of Cherokee descent. When I read the following Resolution by the Occupy Boston group, I was deeply touched and moved.

What was profound for me was how this action and the worldwide Occupy Movement meshed with the prophecies found in many Native Tribes.

Listen to these excerpts of their words.

RESOLVED, That we seek the involvement of the First Nations in the rebuilding of a new society on their ancestral land... with the guidance and participation of First Nations Peoples.
... [We] implore Indigenous Peoples to share their wisdom and guidance, as they see fit... [and] initiate a new era of peace and cooperation... including the Earth and the original inhabitants of this land.

They know they have lost the way. That the killing of the Earth and its peoples must stop.

More importantly, they know that we the Native people of the Earth have the wisdom to guide them.

Has this ever happened before, has anyone ever said this to us!

When I look upon the crowds at Occupy protests, I see all races and people of the earth in all their diversity, a rainbow of races and people from all walks of life around the globe.

The worldwide Occupy movement reminds me of a number of Native American Prophecies.

It is not just Native American Tribes that see this in prophecy, the Tibetan Buddhists have a similar prophecy, and the Dali Lama has spoken with Hopi Elders about this. There are more such prophecies from tribes and people around the world, I can not list them all.

Now is the time, the White Buffalo has been born. Will we let its promise die?

It is not just the light skinned man that must make a choice. The words of our ancestors show we must also choose!

Will we grasp the hands extended from around the world and complete the Great Hoop? Shall we give them the wisdom and knowledge of our ancestors they seek?

Or will we in fear and anger not join the hoop? Let prejudice and spite withhold our council from them?

The Earth filled with the blood and bones of our ancestors cry out to us, the words they spoke long ago ring in our ears today, stand or die, we must choose.

Are we content to sit around the fire and tell stories of our suffering while moaning how things will never change?

The Earth calls out to her children around the world. The words of our ancestors call out to us. Those that have answered call out to us. I raise my voice to the Creator, I pray for the strength for what I know is to come, I pray that all will hear and answer the call.

We can not sit by and let the Earth and her children die a slow death in the name of profit!

We must stand together, one great hoop around the world.

See Also

• Council of Elders