All Municipal Buildings will be Closed on Monday, October 10, in Observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day
On Monday, October 10, all municipal buildings will be closed with the exception of the Police and Fire Stations in observance of Indigenous Peoples' Day. All buildings will resume normal hours on Tuesday, October 11.
Curbside Trash & Recycling pickup will be delayed by one day. To view the 2022 Trash & Recycling Calendar for the City of Melrose, visit http://www.cityofmelrose.org/solid-waste-recycling/pages/calendars-schedules.
In 2021, Melrose became one of 20 towns in Massachusetts to officially change the name of Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples Day.
Ways to Honor Indigenous Peoples' Day
Community members are encouraged to honor Indigenous' Peoples Day in their own way on October 10. Here are a few suggestions for everyone in the family to engage with the spirit of Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year.
Acknowledge the Indigenous Lands we Live On
The National Museum of the American Indian recommends engaging in the practice of acknowledging the lands you live on and name the Indigenous people who originally resided there. This land acknowledgment is a way for the Melrose community, as members of the non-Native community, to recognize the injustice that Native Peoples have endured.
We live on the unceded ancestral homelands of the Pawtucket and the Massachusett Peoples, past and present. We acknowledge and honor with gratitude the land and waterways, and the Native people who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.
Attend an Indigenous Peoples' Day Event in Massachusetts
The Indigenous Peoples Day of MA and Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day have compiled a full list of events celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day. View the full list by clicking this link. Know of an event that is not on the list? Include your event on this list by emailing ItaliansforIPD@gmail.com.
Learn More through Books, Especially Those Written By Indigenous Authors
Consider checking out a book at the Melrose Public Library, or find your own book from a recommended reading list such as the Boston University’s “10 Great Reads in Honor of Indigenous Peoples Day”. Please note that the Melrose Public Library is temporarily located at the Beebe School, 263 W Foster St. Visit melrosepubliclibrary.org/ to learn more.
Respect the Environment
Native plants support healthy ecosystems by sustaining insects, which are a cornerstone of a healthy environment. The U.S. Forest Service has all sorts of resources about gardening with native species on its website Celebrating Wildflowers. Another wat to respect the environment is to show gratitude for the land we live on by hosting a neighborhood cleanup.
Information included in this email has been sourced from various resources including Boston University, the Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness, and The Smithsonian.