Follow us on Social Media

📣 UPDATE: Wellesley college has reversed their

📣 UPDATE: Wellesley college has reversed their decision and agreed to have a Native student deliver the land acknowledgement!!

—-
@mahtowin1: "SIGN PETITION Wellesley College will have a land acknowledgement for the first time at June 4 commencement. BUT they are refusing to allow graduating Wampanoag senior (Pres. of Native Students Assn) to read it, saying that two non-Native students should read it even though those students want a Native student instead. What's a land acknowledgement if it erases Native people??? Please sign this petition! (For some users, it might be easier to add your name while on a computer rather than on your phone)"⁠
⁠
🔗 Link to the petition is in our bio!⁠
⁠
[Image description: Over a grayish blue background is dark blue text that reads, SIGN THE PETITION urging Wellesley College to recognize the importance of a Native student offering the college's very first land acknowledgement at commencement. Link in bio!]

The Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley

Plants 4 Plants auction is now LIVE! Head over to

Plants 4 Plants auction is now LIVE! Head over to @plants4plants_ipdw to bid between now and 5 pm April 10. All proceeds will go towards supporting the Oglala District Service Center’s efforts towards food sovereignty in their community.

[Image description: caption in white text on green background with images of potted plants and tall grass.]

BIG NEWS! 🎉 Wellesley’s Select Board has vote

BIG NEWS! 🎉 Wellesley’s Select Board has voted in favor of celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October! 🎉 This move to officially honor Indigenous Peoples Day in Wellesley has been a multi year process and we are happy to know that Wellesley will celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day this October.

The Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day would like to thank you again for your support. 🥰 We would also like to let you know that our work will continue and we will remain active as a subcommittee within the World of Wellesley. You can check out our virtual fundraiser coming up on April 9 to support the Oglala District Service Center’s efforts toward food sovereignty in their district of the Oglala Lakota Nation in South Dakota @plants4plants_ipdw 🪴

[Image description: on a black background is an outline of a white box with white text inside that reads “the second Monday of October is officially Indigenous Peoples Day in Wellesley, MA” there is a blueberry plant, dogwood flower, and other plants around the border]

#ipdwellesley #indigenouspeoplesday

🗣 Wellesley is inviting residents to share comm

🗣 Wellesley is inviting residents to share comments with the Select Board before their vote on IPD in Wellesley Monday, April 5 6:30 pm! Wellesley is very close to making this change official after years of organizing. Let’s make it happen!!

..
[Image description: slide 1, on a grayish green background is large white text that reads “April 5” below says “The Select Board will vote on Indigenous Peoples Day in Wellesley, Submit a comment.” Slide 2, screenshot of webpage wellesleyma.gov/civicalerts.aspxAID=1099. “News & Announcements. Posted on: March 30, 2021
Comment on Indigenous Peoples Day
The Select Board will discuss the Indigenous Peoples Day resolution at its regular meeting on Monday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. Residents are invited to share comments with the Board in advance of this discussion. To comment in advance of the meeting, please email sel@wellesleyma.gov to reach all five Board members. To comment during the meeting, residents may also email sel@wellesleyma.gov and indicate they would like to speak during the public comment portion of Monday night's meeting. You will receive a return email with a call-in number and your speaker order. On March 2, 2021, Wellesley voters approved a non-binding referendum asking the Select Board to proclaim the second Monday in October as Indigenous Peoples Day and cease to recognize Columbus Day in Wellesley, in order to recognize the position of Indigenous Peoples as native to our land and the suffering they faced during and after the European conquest.”]

Q: What is food sovereignty? A: The Declaration o

Q: What is food sovereignty?
A: The Declaration of Nyéléni in Mali 2007 and La Via Campesina International Peasant’s Movement define food sovereignty as “the right of peoples to healthy and culturally appropriate food produced through ecologically sound and sustainable methods, and their right to define their own food and agriculture systems. It puts the aspirations and needs of those who produce, distribute, and consume food at the heart of food systems and policies rather than the demands of markets and corporations.” Food sovereignty is about equitable access to affordable, healthy, and culturally appropriate food. It is a global and local movement inextricably linked with human rights, Indigenous sovereignty, ecosystem protection, and climate resilience.
The upcoming Plants 4 Plants auction seeks to support the Oglala District Service Center’s efforts towards food sovereignty for their community by contributing seeds and gardening supplies to help people within their district of the Oglala Lakota Nation grow their own food.

Follow @plants4plants_ipdw to participate in the auction April 9-10!!

[Image description: question and answer written above in white text on a green background.]

You voted and now they need to listen and act—te

You voted and now they need to listen and act—tell Wellesley’s Select Board to follow the Annual Town Election results and vote to officially honor IPD in Wellesley! 🗣
We encourage you connect with the Select Board via email at sel@wellesleyma.gov and share your thoughts on why this is an important action for the town of Wellesley. Here are some details you can use:

At the Annual Town Meeting on June 23, 2020, Article 42 (to honor Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October and cease to celebrate Columbus Day) passed. The vote was 63.7% (130) in favor and 36.3% (74) opposed. An amendment was added to bring the article to a town-wide vote.

In the March 2, 2021 Annual Town Election, Question 1 (to honor Indigenous Peoples Day on the second Monday of October and cease to celebrate Columbus Day) passed. The vote was 53.25% (2,255) in favor and 46.75% (1,980) opposed—a margin of 6.5%. In terms of votes by precinct, 75% (6 out of 8) voted in favor.

We also encourage you to tune into the upcoming Select Board meetings. Select Board meetings are typically Mondays at 6:00 PM EST. The next meetings will be on March 29th and April 5th. All Select Board Meetings are live streamed by Wellesley Public Media and televised on Comcast channel 8 and Verizon channel 40.

..

[Image description: On a gray background is white text that reads “Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley Next Steps”. Below is a black icon of an email in an envelope with the label “send an email” next to a plus sign and an icon of broadcasting waves with a label “tune into a meeting”.
In white text at the bottom it says, “Tell the Select Board to follow the results of the Annual Town Election and officially proclaim the second Monday of October IPD in Wellesley”]

The Committee for Indigenous Peoples Day Wellesley

Announcement: As the election has ended, this conc

Announcement: As the election has ended, this concludes our term as a ballot question committee. However, our group will continue working together to support Indigenous Peoples in our community and beyond. We will maintain our name, imagery, and social media accounts to further this work. We invite you to follow along and join us. Thank you!

Thank you again for supporting the campaign and vo

Thank you again for supporting the campaign and voting yes on question 1 yesterday! This is just the beginning and we hope that you’ll join us in not only celebrating Indigenous Peoples but also supporting and centering Indigenous voices. In the meantime we want you to know that there are many initiatives and activities that are focused on Indigenous Peoples on not only the local level, but also the state level, and your voice is just as important as it ever was.⁠
⁠
One way to engage is to review and contact your elected officials about the MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda. The 2021-2022 MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda includes 5 priorities: Remove Racist Mascots, Honor Indigenous Peoples Day, Celebrate and Teach Native American Culture & History, Protect Native American Heritage, and Support the Education and Futures of Native Youth. You can join these legislative priorities by urging your state legislators to co-sponsor these 5 important bills today! Go to the link in our bio to write a letter to your state representatives about promoting this agenda 🔗 It only takes a few minutes!⁠
⁠
..⁠
[Image description: A photo of people with white text overtop that reads "MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda". Below is gray text that reads "The 2021-2022 Indigenous Legislative Agenda includes 5 priorities: Remove Racist Mascots, Honor Indigenous People's Day, Celebrate and Teach Native American Culture & History, Protect Native American Heritage, and Support the Education and Futures of Native Youth. Please urge your state legislators to co-sponsor these 5 important bills today!]

IPD Wellesley Thanks You!. The preliminary results

IPD Wellesley Thanks You!. The preliminary results are in, and you did it! Your voice and your vote sent a clear message on election day, that the town of Wellesley stands in solidarity and support for Indigenous Peoples in our community and beyond. When we asked for your endorsements you put a name to your vote. When we called for volunteers you showed up. When we were out in the streets you honked, applauded, and brought us Dunkin! For all this and more we are forever grateful.

We’ve created a little montage of photos and videos from our time together in Wellesley which we’d like to share with you.

This vote is an important step to honoring Indigenous Peoples in our community and beyond and we look forward to seeing the Select Board take up this matter as quickly as possible. However, this is just the beginning and we hope that you’ll join us in not only celebrating Indigenous Peoples but also supporting and centering Indigenous voices. We look forward to continuing this journey with you!

Reasons to Vote YES on Question 1 today⁠
⁠
..⁠
⁠
[Image description: "In the March 2 Annual Town Election, Wellesley voters have the opportunity to unite against racism and honor Indigenous Peoples with a YES vote on Question 1. Indigenous people have been calling for Indigenous Peoples Day for decades. Formally recognized by the UN Geneva Conference Declaration of 1977, Indigenous Peoples Day is already celebrated in lieu of Columbus Day in 14 states, the District of Columbia, and more than 130 cities, including 14 communities in MA. Celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day begins to remedy the harmful effects of racist U.S. policies and distorted histories that normalize genocide, removal, erasure and negative stereotypes of Indigenous Peoples while glorifying colonization, westward expansion, and white supremacy. We cannot celebrate both Indigenous Peoples Day and Columbus Day. Columbus brought a culture of domination, exploitation, violence, and greed that resulted in genocide, oppression, and destruction of Indigenous cultures and ecosystems. Celebrating Columbus is an affront to Indigenous people and to all people who abhor what he represents. Changing to Indigenous Peoples Day is not anti-Italian; it is an antiracist stand against the genocidal legacy of Columbus. Many Italian Americans stand in solidarity with Indigenous people and support this change. Indigenous Peoples Day acknowledges the ongoing presence of the Original Peoples of Turtle Island–this land we now call North America–as well as Indigenous communities around the world. In this time of existential ecological crisis, Indigenous people provide much needed wisdom on how we can live sustainably in balanced relation with each other and the land. Indigenous Peoples Day celebrates and centers Indigenous voices, sciences, cultures, and ways of life."]

Today is the day!!! Polls open at 7 am and close

Today is the day!!!

Polls open at 7 am and close at 8 pm. You can check our stories or go to the link 🔗 in bio for more info about polling locations. Mail-in ballots must also be dropped off at the Elections & Payments dropbox outside of town hall by 8 pm tonight.

We wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported the campaign in some way, whether that was exploring resources and learning, donating, getting a yard sign, volunteering, talking to your network, or engaging with us on social media. We appreciate you! ❤️

Happy voting 😊

..

[Image description: folks standing outside of Wellesley Village Church wearing masks and holding Honor Indigenous Peoples Day signs. There is a dog on the left.]

1 MORE DAY! Election day is TOMORROW! Can you beli

1 MORE DAY! Election day is TOMORROW! Can you believe it?
Today’s action item is posting about IPD Wellesley on your social media accounts. Share one of your favorite posts of ours or make your own--spread the word and let’s Get Out The Vote!!

..
[Image description: a large beige number ‘1’ on a black background with blueberries]

With only 2 DAYS left until the election, we’re

With only 2 DAYS left until the election, we’re challenging you all to contact 2 FRIENDS and tell them why voting Yes on Question 1 March 2nd is important! Get to it!

..
[Image description: a large beige number ‘2’ on a black background with tall grass representing wild rice]

There are only 3 DAYS LEFT until the election and

There are only 3 DAYS LEFT until the election and so we are designating today Show Us Your Sign/Support Saturday!!!⁠
If you have pics of your IPD Wellesley yard sign, DM us and we’ll repost it on our stories today :)⁠
..⁠
[Image description: a large beige number ‘3’ on a black background with a four petal dogwood flower seen on IPD Wellesley yard signs that represents kinnikinnick]

Over 150 people have already pledged their commitm

Over 150 people have already pledged their commitment to vote Yes on Question 1! Join the national movement to honor Indigenous Peoples Day and vote to make this important change in Wellesley on Tuesday March 2⁠
…⁠
[Image description: On a green background is beige text that reads “The recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day in Wellesley has been endorsed by… 8 advisory committee members, 131 town meeting members, 157 individuals, 4 groups ...and counting!”]

Our wonderful content team has put together a list

IMPORTANT: TODAY AT 5 PM is the deadline to reques

IMPORTANT: TODAY AT 5 PM is the deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the March 2 election!! If you haven’t requested one yet and are planning to vote-by-mail, this is your official reminder to do it now 💥 ⁠
Remember, even if you requested mail-in ballots for elections in 2020 you have to do it again for this election! ⁠
Also check in with your network to make sure they know the deadline is today ☺️⁠
⁠
🔗 Link in our bio for info on how to vote⁠
⁠
...⁠
⁠
[Image description: On a light blue background is large black, bold text that reads "TODAY at 5 pm is the deadline to submit your mail-in ballot application !" Below is a clipping of the mail-in ballot application you can download online in a circle. Around the circle is white text that says "vote by mail. vote by mail. vote by mail. vote by mail."]⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠

Attention: The deadline to request a mail-in ballo

Attention: The deadline to request a mail-in ballot for the March 2 election is 5 pm on Feb. 24!! In 2 days!!!⁠
Even if you voted by mail in the November elections, you have to request a mail-in ballot again!⁠
If you are registered to vote, plan to vote by mail, but have not requested a mail-in ballot yet, go to the link in our bio ASAP for information about how to submit your request 🔗⁠
⁠
..⁠
⁠
[Image description: A map with the title, Voting in Wellesley’s Annual Town Election. Do you live in Wellesley? Y/N. If yes, will you be 18 or older on March 2, 2021? Y/N. If yes, are you registered to vote in Wellesley? Y/N/Unsure. If no or unsure, go to the MA Secretary of State’s website and register if needed by Feb. 10. If yes, How would you like to vote? By mail/In person. If by mail, 1) Fill out a mail-in ballot request form and return it to the town clerk by Feb. 24 at 5pm, 2) Return your ballot to the town clerk by March 2 at 8pm. If in person, 1) Double check your polling location, 2) Vote on March 2, 7am - 8pm]⁠

We as people who reside, work, and engage in Wellesley acknowledge this town is located on the traditional territory of the Massachusett People.

© All Rights Reserved 2020