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Salem State recognizes that our university occupies Naumkeag, the traditional and ancestral homeland of the Pawtucket band of the Massachusett people.  

In November, the Office of Inclusive Excellence is honored to celebrate Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month. This month, and in all we do, we recognize and uplift our Native students, faculty, staff, alumni, and extended community, including the Massachusett Tribe, our many Native neighbors and those from Indigenous diasporas across the globe. Our inclusion of Indigenous communities worldwide in this heritage month is intentional; in doing so, we affirm our commitment to the diverse experiences and unique perspectives that shape Indigenous identities. 

We invite the Salem State community to engage, learn and act as we celebrate the contributions, joys and resilience of Indigenous peoples locally and globally. As a starting place, inclusive excellence suggests that all Salem State students, faculty, staff, and community members read and reflect on the university’s official land acknowledgement and resources. We encourage everyone to consider how they might transform this awareness of our university’s history and presence into opportunities for meaningful learning, reflection, and collective action. 

Please see the 2024 campus programs below. Interested in adding to this list? Please .

City of Salem: Native American Heritage Month Flag Raising 

Friday, November 1, 11 am-12 pm | City Hall, 93 Washington Street, Salem

In partnership with members of the Massachusett Tribal Council, the City of Salem will raise the Massachusett flag in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month on Wednesday, November 1 at 11 am in front of City Hall. Residents and community members are invited to attend this ceremony. 

Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba (part 1) 

Wednesday, November 6 | 3 pm | Berry Learning Commons lower level

In this joint event with the University of North Carolina, architect and historian Nadi Abusaada of the American University of Beirut will join via Zoom to discuss the photos included in Against Erasure and respond to questions from participants. 

Sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine, Muslim Student Association, Asian Student Association, Latin American Student Organization, Historical Association, Society of Advancement of Latinos/Chicanos and Native Americans in Sciences, and the SSU Alliance.

Decolonize Indigenous Peoples Celebration 

Tuesday, November 12, 4:30-6 pm | Veterans Hall B, Ellison Campus Center

Join the Intersectional Feminist Collective for a community gathering and light bites to celebrate, honor and discuss Indigenous presence, histories, joys and issues in our community and beyond. Join us before you attend guest speaker Jean O’Brien’s talk in Recital Hall!

Firsting and Lasting: Writing Indians out of Existence in New England by  Jean O'Brien 

Tuesday, November 12,  6-8:30 pm | Recital Hall, Central Campus Classroom Building 

Dr. Jean O'Brien, Regents Professor of History at the University of Minnesota, will discuss her class book First and Lasting: Writing Indians out of Existence in New England, which traces the persistent myth of the "Vanishing Indian" to its origins in nineteenth-century New England. 

Sponsored by the history department; co-sponsored by Inclusive Excellence, School of Graduate Studies, the Public History Speakers Series, and the City of Salem.

Firsting and Lasting Exhibit Opening and Curator Discussion 

Wednesday, November 13, 3 pm | Berry Learning Commons lower level 

Join student curator Cassie Johnson for a discussion of the month-long exhibit “Firsting and Lasting,” sponsored by the Honors Program. 

Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba (part 2) 

Tuesday, November 19,  11 am | Berry Learning Commons lower level 

Join Teresa Aranguren and Sandra Barrilaro, editors of the recent publication Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine before the Nakba, as they meet with us virtually for a discussion about their book, its photos and the importance of recovering erased histories. This bilingual discussion will be translated into both Spanish and English.

Sponsored by Students for Justice in Palestine, World Languages and Cultures, Muslim Student Association, Asian Student Association, Latin American Student Organization, Historical Association, Society of Advancement of Latinos/Chicanos and Native Americans in Sciences, and the SSU Alliance.

Decolonizing Climate and Energy Policy: Forging a Just Global Green Transformation 

Wednesday, November 20, 12 pm | Virtual via Zoom

In this virtual talk hosted by Tufts University, Professor Noel Healy of Salem State’s Geography and Sustainability department discusses how the climate crisis demands decolonial land practices and transformative action to dismantle historical injustices and systemic inequalities. 

Reaffirming our Commitments to Native American and Indigenous Peoples: Virtual Workshop and Community Conversation 

Wednesday, November 20, 11:30 am-1 pm |  

Part 1: Allyship Workshop 

Join inclusive excellence and partners for a one-hour live-learning workshop that will discuss the history of Native American peoples nationally and locally, the impact of colonization and residential schools, and what actions you can take to be a better ally. 

Part 2: Assessing and Reaffirming our Commitments to our Indigenous Communities 

Immediately following the workshop will be a 30-minute community discussion about Salem State’s commitments to our Native American and Indigenous community members and neighbors. Where are we in our work and what do we need to continue to collaborate on? 

Spilling the Tea with IFC: Lets Talk about Missing Indigenous Women and Children

This year, the Intersectional Feminist Collective hosts our annual Spilling the Tea event at Jolie Tea in Beverly. We are having an educational dialogue about missing Indigenous women and children (MMIWC) over high tea. 

Note: This event has limited capacity. Students wishing to attend this event are required to RSVP by Monday, November 11. First come first serve, we hope to see you there!!

For more updates on Native American and Indigenous Heritage Month programming, follow Inclusive Excellence on Instagram:

To request an accommodation for any of these events, please contact disability services at 978.542.6217 or email access@salemstate.edu.