Message from President Pam Eddinger: Observing Indigenous Peoples Day

Sunday, October 9, 2022

Bunker Hill Community College | Office of the President

Dear BHCC Community,

On Monday, October 10, we observe Indigenous Peoples Day—a day to commemorate the proud histories of the people of the First Nations.  We offer gratitude to them for their role as stewards of the land on which we now live and solidarity in the work of preserving and extending the cultural wealth and richness of the Nations’ cultures.  

During this academic year, we again welcome Mr. Larry Spotted Crow Mann, member of the Nipmuc Tribe and award-winning author of The Mourning Road to Thanksgiving, as our continuing Artist and Scholar in Residence.  We look forward to his continued work in the life of the school, including workshops about Native American history, culture, and storytelling. 

This year, many in-person Indigenous Peoples Day events are scheduled throughout the Commonwealth.  You can learn about Indigenous Peoples Day events and find more resources at maindigenousagenda.org. 

The College has expanded its Distinguished Artist and Scholar in Residence program with the goal of lifting up the voices of indigenous women.  Deborah Spears Moorehead is a member of the Wampanoag Tribe.  A fine artist, painter, sculptor, Native American consultant, cultural bearer, historian, storyteller, musician, and composer, she is the author of Finding Balance: The Oral and Written History and Genealogy of Massasoit’s People.  Pamela Ellis is a member of the Nipmuc Tribe.  She holds a Juris Doctorate in Federal Indian Law, is an attorney, a Tribal Council Member, a Tribal Historian and a genealogist.  We are honored to have Deborah and Pamela’s unique voices and gifts in our College community. 

As Larry Spotted Crow Mann has reminded us, there are many simple actions all of us can take to center the indigenous experience in our communal, collegiate, and national life.  Getting to know indigenous people of your area, asking them what you can do to lift up their voices and honor their sovereignty, recognizing and working to change the dominant narrative that glorifies colonization and genocide of Indigenous Peoples are action steps we can take throughout the year.  I encourage you to reach out to the Massachusetts Tribe, or to cultural organizations like the Ohketeau Cultural Center to learn more about opportunities to get involved. 

Thank you for observing this important day.  We hope you will join the learning journey that began last year with Larry Spotted Crow Mann, and continues this year as he is joined by Pamela Ellis and Deborah Spears Moorehead in our Artist and Scholar in Residence activities throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Pam Y. Eddinger, PhD
President
Bunker Hill Community College