Name: Creating and Uncreating Native Americans: In Literary Traditions
Start: 2026-05-22T18:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-22T19:30:00-04:00
Location: The Beebe Estate

Creating and Uncreating Native Americans: In Literary Traditions

Friends of the Fells

Join us to learn about how literature has shaped the understanding of Indigenous identity with Brad Lopes, Aquinnah Wampanoag educator.

The Beebe Estate

Guided Hikes

We offer many kinds of guided, themed educational walks and social hiking for adults. All have fun and knowledgeable guides.

Please join us on Friday, May 22nd from 6:00 - 7:30 PM for an evening educational lecture regarding how literature has shaped the non-Native public's understanding of Indigenous identity from the 15th century and onward. This event is part of the Friends of the Fells Native Land Learning Series honoring the deep knowledge and contributions of our Indigenous community members, led by Massachusetts-based Tribal artists and educators Brad Lopes and Elizabeth James-Perry. See our <a href="https://eventbrite.oldmanhustle.net/o/friends-of-the-fells-58309911053" title="https://eventbrite.oldmanhustle.net/o/friends-of-the-fells-58309911053" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Eventbrite Calendar here</a> to learn more and register for more events in this series.Description: As the concept of settler colonialism emerges out of Europe in the 15th century, literature is capturing the thoughts, ideas, and questions posed by colonizers as they seek to understand the world they're encountering. In many ways, these primary sources and the literature inspired by them have formed the core foundation of understanding about Indigenous Peoples. However, this only tells one side of the story, often laden with bias and incorrect information, shifting political sovereign Tribal Nations towards the problematic monolith of "Indians" and later "Native Americans". How have these traditions of literature shaped the non-Native public's understanding of Indigenous identity from this time period onward? And how are Indigenous people resisting these narratives, both in the past and today? In this presentation, Brad Lopes (Aquinnah Wampanoag) will share about the English literary tradition within Wampanoag Homelands and how these practices contribute to problematic understandings of our identity until today.Speaker: Brad LopesAbout Brad Lopes: Brad Lopes is a citizen of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, who call Nôepe (Martha's Vineyard) home and have lived there for over 12,000 years. He serves as the Education Manager for the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) and the Education and Public Program Coordinator for the Aquinnah Cultural Center, a Wampanoag history museum founded in the Edwin DeVries Vanderhoop homestead, engaging in educational work around Wampanoag culture and history. At the core of his work is storytelling sovereignty, emphasizing the ways in which dominating settler narratives of history and historiography have often shaped largely impartial understandings of the past. Outside of these roles, Brad Lopes also serves on the boards of the Whale and Dolphin Conservation and the Indigenous Resource Collaborative, led by Linda Coombs, an Aquinnah Wampanoag historian, author, and elder.Location: Please meet at the Beebe Estate in Melrose (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Beebe+Estate/@42.4559037,-71.0724818,1370m/data=!3m3!1e3!4b1!5s0x89e373bc57498d8b:0xca6d1ddcf25aef0e!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e373a7bd2885cf:0xbba9a676e23e7bc9!8m2!3d42.4559037!4d-71.0699069!16s%2Fg%2F11rxs0vt22?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" title="https://www.google.com/maps/place/The+Beebe+Estate/@42.4559037,-71.0724818,1370m/data=!3m3!1e3!4b1!5s0x89e373bc57498d8b:0xca6d1ddcf25aef0e!4m6!3m5!1s0x89e373a7bd2885cf:0xbba9a676e23e7bc9!8m2!3d42.4559037!4d-71.0699069!16s%2Fg%2F11rxs0vt22?entry=ttu&amp;g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQyOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Google Maps location here</a>). Ample parking is available at the Beebe Estate.Appropriate for: All are welcome!Contact: Please reach out to andrea.robles@fells.org with questions/inquiries about this event.Dogs: While we love experiencing the outdoors with our dogs, this program is not suitable for dogs. We ask that you please leave your furry friends home while attending this program.Check out our calendar for dog-friendly events!Image: Brad LopesThis program is offered in partnership with Freedom’s Way National Heritage Area during the Hidden Treasures Festival of Nature, Culture &amp; History. Learn more at <a href="https://freedomsway.org" title="https://freedomsway.org" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">freedomsway.org</a>.Please note: Emails from Eventbrite may end up in your spam folder. Please check your spam folder if you have registered for the waitlist to ensure that you are receiving the email notifications. We also suggest removing Eventbrite from your spam sender list.

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Creating and Uncreating Native Americans: In Literary Traditions

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Creating and Uncreating Native Americans: In Literary Traditions

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