Confronting Colonial Myths in Boston's Public Space

During this virtual panel series, Indigenous leaders, artists and allies spoke about their work in the public realm, and addressed how public symbols perpetuating colonial myths affect the lives of Indigenous people in the city, contributing to the public health emergency of racism. It was live streamed through the Mayor's Office of Arts & Culture Boston Facebook page.

#confrontcolonialmyths

Facilitated by Erin Genia, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota, Artist-in-Residence, City of Boston

Part 1, July 21^st

Speakers: Mahtowin Munro, Lakota, Co-leader of United American Indians of New England and lead organizer for IndigenousPeoplesDayMA.org; Lilly E. Manycolors, mixed Choctaw, interdisciplinary artist and scholar class; Jean-Luc Pierite, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, President of the Board, North American Indian Center of Boston

Part 2, July 28th

Speakers: Elizabeth Solomon, member of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag,  Director of Administration in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health; Pierre Belanger, Ghazal Jafari and Pablo Escudero of OPEN SYSTEMS;  Heather Leavell, co-founder of Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day, museum director and curator in the Boston area; Dr. Darlene Flores, member of the Higuayagua Taino of the Caribbean Tribe, owner, Karaya Wellness Clinic in Brookline. 

Part 3, August 4th

Speakers: Jenny Oliver, member of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapag, artist and educator; Kristen Wyman, Nipmuc, co-founder of Eastern Woodlands Rematriation (EWR).