Indigenous Importance

The indigenous peoples of Massachusetts have a rich legacy that spans over thousands of years. Their traditions, languages, art, and spiritual beliefs are integral to understanding the land’s deep-rooted history and the ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities. Recognizing and honoring this heritage is not only a matter of historical accuracy, but also a way to foster respect, collaboration, and mutual understanding among all residents of Massachusetts. By valuing and preserving Indigenous culture, we ensure that future generations can learn from the wisdom and experiences of these resilient and diverse peoples.

 

During the 1600s, the area was the territory of the Wampanoag Native Americans, ‘People of the First Light’. In 1652, English colonists purchase land in a treaty with Chief Ousamequin (Massasoit) and his son Wamsutta. This land was known as Old Dartmouth (modern Dartmouth Acushnet, New Bedford, Fairhaven, and Westport). As a direct result of colonization and the cruel introduction of the concept of land ownership, which was not familiar to the Wampanoag people, the European claim to full ownership of the land caused a dispute that led to conflict.

For New Bedford, Michele Paul firmly believes in the notion of recognizing the destruction done in the past against the indigenous people of Massachusetts, especially New Bedford. According to Michele Paul, “the indigenous peoples took care of this land for hundreds of years and it took us a hundred years to really screw it up”. For the NB Resilient Plan, reconnecting with the indigenous communities has been on the forefront of people’s minds.

For example, one of the projects that is still in development is known as the “Blue Lane” waterfront project. Essentially, the “Blue Lane” is a designation for the city’s waterfront shared use path network from the CoveWalk and HarborWalk along the South End peninsula to the planned RiverWalk on the banks of the Acushnet River in the North End. On this developing project, Michele Paul explains how she has been actively collaborating with Lee Blake, the president of the New Bedford History Society. Blake is also apart of the Wampanoag tribe and has always been passionate about making sure society supports multicultural and multi-racial history that reflects New Bedford’s African American, Native American, and Cape Verdean communities.

Michele Paul states that, “we can also bring in the indigenous history along the waterfront so that it really tells the story of really stewarding the land, really screwing it up, and now really trying to make that connection back and to try to restore things as much as we can”. Therefore, reconnecting with the indigenous history of the land of New Bedford is crucial in educating the public. Additionally, reconnecting with the indigenous community aligns with the second condition of Julian Agyeman’s four conditions of just sustainabilities. Ever since colonization, there has been a shortage of resources throughout the generations and has contributed to to the improper allocation of resources and has allowed the persistence of injustice. We will be able to ensure that the needs of both present and future generations will be met by educating the public on the importance of the indigenous communities in New Bedford and allocating resources properly.