With the goal of providing a meaningful opportunity for conversation and education, Belmont Against Racism (BAR) is presenting a free, interactive event on Oct. 13 in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Musician Thea Hopkins, a member of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe of Martha’s Vineyard, said she is glad Belmont “is involved with creating a dialogue and conversation regarding this topic – it is complex.”
During the upcoming event, which begins at 7 p.m. in Belmont High School’s Black Box Theater (221 Concord Ave.), Hopkins will perform original pieces as well as a song from the Trail of Tears, a U.S. government-forced displacement of Indigenous peoples in the 1830s that caused the deaths of thousands.
Her cousin, historian Linda Coombs of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe, will also participate. She “brings invaluable perspectives on both the historical and contemporary experiences of the Wampanoag Nation,” according to BAR.
Although Belmont has marked the important holiday in various ways over the years, BAR president Didier Moise said the all-volunteer community-action organization worked to create a new tradition, which he hopes will continue in the future.
After receiving a modest grant, BAR reached out to the local nonprofit group, The Opening Doors Project. Alastair Moock, cofounder and artistic director of Opening Doors, said the organization “was founded to promote meaningful interracial conversations about race through the arts.” After BAR contacted them, Opening Doors connected the group with Hopkins.
Moock, who has known Hopkins for decades, felt a show she had developed aligned with BAR’s goals.
Called “In the Roundhouse,” Moock described the performance as “a celebration of traditional and contemporary Native American music and culture.”
After Hopkins performs on Oct. 13, there will be a chance for conversation and questions from the audience.
Hopkins said she is in the process of organizing the discussion and said the topic of indigeneity “has to be looked at within a historical context” as well as what is happening nowadays.
“We hope that young people come with their parents,” said Moise, who noted that back in 2021, it was Belmont High School students who urged the town to change from Columbus Day to Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
Looking ahead to the performance, Moock said, “It’s a gift to have somebody share their own experience that’s different than yours.”
“There is a lot we can learn from those folks,” said Moise.
