Taina Teravainen, TCCS ’19
On October 7, citizens of Nipmuc Nation gathered to commemorate the forced removal of their ancestors from South Natick in 1675, during King Phillip’s War. This bloody period of armed conflict between the New England colonists and the Wampanoag, Podunk, Narragansett, Nashaway and Nipmuc nations led to massive amounts of human casualties and destruction for both sides. The Native peoples had attempted to push the colonists out after enduring years of unfair land and arms deals.
Many of the Nipmuc people had converted to Christianity, but the colonists remained distrustful of them during the war. At least five hundred Nipmucs were put in shackles and transported by water to an isolated concentration camp on Deer Island, without enough food, proper clothing and shelter to carry them through the harsh winter. Most of the Nipmucs died on the island; few were able to make it back to their homeland at the end of the war.
I was there for this year’s memorial on Deer Island, along with other non-native people and native people from other nations, as a spectator, a witness, and as a form of support. 24 people were retracing the Nipmuc ancestors’ water route in reverse, paddling in two canoes from Deer Island back to the falls in Natick. Around five volunteers were walking around 11 miles from Brighton to meet up with the paddlers. It was to be a long grueling journey – but one that also allowed the participants to recall what had been inflicted on the Nipmuc ancestors.
I’m an American that only began living in the U.S. at age 19. It’s been seven years since I moved to this country, and I’ve realized that I’m not alone in my ignorance about the histories of Native peoples in the U.S. There is a frustrating lack of acknowledgement, awareness and discussion of the past and present experiences of Native peoples within education and social contexts, barring environments where there is a concerted effort to do so.
Since I began living in Massachusetts, I have had the privilege to spend great swaths of time contemplating what I wanted to do here. I’ve never really stopped to think about under what circumstances I am able to do so. I’m currently taking a graduate course called “Community Formation and Development” with Dr. Cedric Woods, the director of the Institute for New England Native American Studies at UMB, and a citizen of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. However, he still identifies himself as a guest of the Native peoples of this state. His words reminded me that I too am a guest – so many of us are – and that I have responsibilities as one.
Marcus Hendricks, grandson of Nipmuc sachem Mary Anne Hendricks, wasn’t taking part in the sacred paddle or walk this year, but was part of the logistics and support faction. He was one of the Nipmuc citizens present who spoke of their people’s connection to the water in the Boston Harbor and their hopes to leave the world in a positive state for future generations. They spoke of resistance – some were thirteen generations removed from the internment, but they were still there and still standing. They spoke of being able to continue gathering, year after year, to bring their ancestors back home.
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