Building Interfaith Indigenous Solidarity

Date: 

Friday, November 30, 2018 (All day)

Location: 

Interfaith Center, 58 Winthrop St, Medford, MA 02155, USA
On November 30th, 2018, students from various religious and cultural groups at Tufts University gathered to co-host an event entitled “Building Interfaith Indigenous Solidarity.” The event took place at the Tufts Interfaith Center in Medford and was attended by approximately 15 students. The Muslim Student Association (MSA), Alternative Jews (Alt-J), Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Indigenous People’s Day at Tufts collaborated to lead the discussion on the complex relationships that exist between Indigenous, Muslim, and Jewish communities. Following introductions and a mention of the Indigenous tribes on whose land the Interfaith Center sits, attendees broke off into small groups and rotated through a series of questions posted around the space. These questions encouraged students to consider how their faith tradition has both advanced justice and contributed to colonialism, how their identity and background shapes knowledge of Indigenous history, and how they act as an ally to Indigenous communities. To close the event, a representative from Indigenous People’s Day invited students to write letters or make phone calls to their congressperson to ask for sponsorship of the Mashpee Reservation Reaffirmation Act. This act would reaffirm the U.S. Department of the Interior’s 2015 decision that established the Mashpee tribe’s reservation. After the formal program concluded, students stayed to mingle, continue discussions, and share knowledge concerning Indigenous issues domestically and globally.