The United American Indians of New England (UAINE) is organizing the 53rd annual National Day of Mourning on November 24th. The gathering will take place at Cole’s Hill (above Plymouth Rock) starting at 12 pm.
The event has roots that stem from a group of traditional leaders from the region and Wamsutta, known as Frank James, an Aquinnah Wampanoag, that was asked to deliver remarks at the 350th anniversary of the Mayflower's sailing in 1970.
James had been invited to a Thanksgiving state dinner to mark the anniversary as part of a celebration that embraced the misleading schoolbook narrative of the Pilgrims’ relationship with the Wampanoag that culminated in a great feast.
James wrote an honest account of the Pilgrims. He described how they desecrated Native American graves, stealing food and land and decimating the population with disease.
The speech was deemed inappropriate and inflammatory, and James was given a revised speech. He refused to read it.
He vowed that the Wampanoag and other Native peoples would regain their rightful place and was ‘uninvited’ from the program.
Instead, supporters followed tribal leaders to hear Wamsutta give his original speech on Cole’s Hill, next to the statue of former Wampanoag leader Ousamequin.
This became the first official National Day of Mourning.
For further information on the event, please visit www.uaine.org
