Indigenous Peoples Day 2022: What’s Open/Closed In Melrose

MELROSE, MA — Fall is in full swing and many across Massachusetts have a day off from school and/or work on Monday due to Indigenous Peoples Day.

While Massachusetts officially recognizes the holiday as Columbus Day, several municipalities across Massachusetts including Melrose have shifted to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day instead.

Here is a primer on what’s open, what’s closed and travel changes to expect as the long weekend continues in Melrose:

• Municipal government offices: Closed
• State government offices: Closed
• Registry of Motor Vehicles: Closed
• Federal offices: Closed
• Post offices: Closed
• Banks: Mostly closed
• Stock market: Open
• State parks: Open
• Grocery stores: Hours vary
• Malls: Open, hours vary
• Liquor stores: Open
• MBTA: No schedule changes
• Trash pickups: Trash and recycling will be delayed by one day
• Traffic: Roadwork outside of fixed work zones will not take place through Oct. 10, according to MassDOT.

Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day

Columbus Day at the federal level dates back at least to 1892, when then President Benjamin Harrison called for a celebration of the 400th anniversary of the date when Christopher Columbus first arrived in the Americas, according to History.com.

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt codified the day as a federal holiday in 1937.

Columbus Day has been a topic of debate in recent years, with supporters of Columbus Day defending the day, in part, as a celebration of Italian-American culture.

Advocates seeking to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day have noted the impact of European colonization by Columbus and others, noting the spread of disease as well as other atrocities against Indigenous people.

As some municipalities have moved to adopt Indigenous Peoples Day, efforts have similarly moved forward at the state level.

Bills to make the change in the legislature failed to make it to the floor for a full vote in this most recent 2022 legislative session, though, as noted by MassLive.

Events

Melrose and the Melrose area have a handful of events set to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day.

Among them, the Melrose Public Library has highlighted a virtual talk on Thursday from Independent Indigenous Consultant and Historian Heather Bruegl. Titled "The Forgotten Nations — Native Tribes of New England," the event will share information on the history and present day experiences of Indigenous communities in New England.

The event will run from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13. Interested attendees can register directly on Zoom.

In Wakefield, the Wakefield Human Rights Commission and the Melrose Highlands Congregational Church have banded together to plan an event on Thursday morning where community members can join artist Aimee Ledwell in a group project to create a large-scale painting of Turtle Island. Supplies will be provided on site.

Turtle Island, for some Indigenous communities, refers to the North American continent, drawing its name from a variety of oral histories in some cultures.

This event is free, running from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Americal Civic Center Heritage Room at 467 Main St. in Wakefield. Participants are asked to register in advance to give organizers an expected head count for the program.

While events this week remain days away, the Melrose Public Library has additionally prepared a series of reading guides for children, teens and adults written by and/or about Indigenous people.

See an expanded list of Indigenous Peoples Day events in Massachusetts here.