United American Indians of New England

284 Amory St. Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 522-6626

E-mail: info@uaine.org Website: http://www.uaine.org

ORIENTATION FOR 2011 NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

WHAT IS NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING?

An annual tradition since 1970, Day of Mourning is a solemn, spiritual and highly political day. Many of us fast from sundown the day before through the afternoon of that day (and have a social after Day of Mourning so that participants in DOM can break their fasts). We are mourning our ancestors and the genocide of our peoples and the theft of our lands. NDOM is a day when we mourn, but we also feel our strength in political action. Over the years, participants in Day of Mourning have buried Plymouth Rock a number of times, boarded the Mayflower replica, and placed ku klux klan sheets on the statue of William Bradford, etc.

WHEN AND WHERE IS DAY OF MOURNING?

Thursday, November 24, 2011 (U.S. "thanksgiving" day) at Cole's Hill, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 12 noon SHARP. Cole's Hill is the hill above Plymouth Rock in the Plymouth historic waterfront area.

WILL THERE BE A MARCH?

Yes, there will be a march through the historic district of Plymouth. Plymouth has agreed, as part of the settlement of 10/19/98, that UAINE may march on Day of Mourning without the need for a permit as long as we give the town advance notice.

PROGRAM: Although we very much welcome our non-Native supporters to stand with us, it is a day when only Indigenous people speak about our history and the struggles that are taking place throughout the Americas. Speakers will be by invitation only. This year's NDOM is once again dedicated to our brother Leonard Peltier.

Please note that NDOM is not a commercial event, so we ask that people do not sell merchandise or distribute leaflets at the outdoor program. If you have literature to distribute, you are welcome to place it on a literature table at the social hall following the speak-out and march. Also, we ask that you do not eat (unless you must do so for medical reasons) at the outdoor speak-out and march out of respect for the participants who are fasting. Finally, dress for the weather!

SOCIAL: There will be a pot-luck social held after the National Day of Mourning speak-out and march this year. Preference for first seatings will be given to Elders, young children and their mother/caretaker, pregnant women, Disabled people, and people who have traveled a long distance to join National Day of Mourning. Please respect our culture and our wish to ensure that these guests will be the first to be able to sit and eat. With this understanding in mind, please bring non-alcoholic beverages, desserts, prepared fresh fruit & vegetables, and pre-cooked entrée items (turkeys, hams, stuffing, vegetables, casseroles, rice & beans, etc.) that can be easily re-warmed at the social hall prior to the social. Our amazing kitchen crew makes great food, with plenty of vegetarian and vegan dishes, too, but if you have special dietary needs, please bring something that will suit you. Thank you.

TRANSPORTATION: Some Occupy/Decolonize Boston supporters and other nice people are working to organize carpools from the Boston area. Please check the facebook event page for National Day of Mourning https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=173150979439886 We do not recommend MBTA service as it is limited and the Plymouth train stop is more than 2 miles away from where we gather.

There may be a bus or two coming from Brooklyn, NY; please contact Lakou NY via tel: 718-907-0484 or
email: lakounyenfo@yahoo.com

Donations: Monetary donations are gratefully accepted to help defray the costs of the day. Please make checks payable to the Metacom Education Project and mail to Metacom Education Project/UAINE, c/o IAC, 284 Amory Street, Boston, MA 02130.