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Natick vows changes following ‘really unfortunate incident’ involving Nipmuc tree harvesting

May 26, 2023 by Bob Brown 4 Comments

Nipmuc nation members harvesting Atlantic white cedar trees at Pickerel Pond in Natick on May 5 were taken aback and frustrated when Natick police officers, responding to a call from a resident, appeared on the scene. After all, Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., had arranged with the town’s Conservation Commission for himself and other Nipmuc citizens to conduct the harvest.

Natick Planner and Conservation Agent Claire Rundelli recounted the episode during the May 18 Natick Conservation Commission meeting (see Pegasus recording, about 46 minutes in) and vowed to improve communications going forward. She had worked with the Department of Public Works to get gates unlocked, allowing vehicles to pass, but had not notified police.

“The police responded, and while there were no charges pressed or arrests made, it was definitely a tense interaction,” Rundelli said. “Reasonably so, the Nipmuc people have very strongly reacted that there needs to be an improvement on the town of Natick side in terms of education and training for our law enforcement about aboriginal sovereign rights.”

“This was a really unfortunate incident…” she acknowledged. “There’s been a lot of discussion on the town side. I see this as a hopeful sort of point of moving forward and growing and learning. [Natick Police Chief James] Hicks has acknowledged that there’s a lot of learning that is needed from the police force.”

Rundelli cited work that has been done between Nipmuc nation and the police on Cape Cod regarding Indigenous rights. (We reached out to the Natick Police Department for comment on Thursday.) While Nipmuc members acknowledge the police need to respond to calls, the goal is for law enforcement to take more of “an aware and neutral approach than a suspicious and defensive approach,” Rundelli said.

Pickerel Pond path

 

Rundelli has been coordinating with members of the Nipmuc community to organize a meeting with town administration, the police, the state’s Commission on Indian Affairs, and others. This would serve as an acknowledgement of the event, allow for an apology “for the distress that it caused,” and give the town a chance to offer a commitment to new training on these rights.

Among the more basic steps that could be taken by the town would be putting up signs to alert the public when such activity might take place, and adding a page on the town website about sovereign rights.

The May 5 interaction between the Nimpuc members and police was captured on a video shared by Gaines on social media. At one point during the discussion, an officer used the term “trespass,” which a Conservation Commission member described as a “loaded” term in that circumstance. Gaines took exception to a question about whether he owned the land, which he explained his people have been on for 12,000 years. We reached out to Gaines for further comment, but he is currently engaged in a time-sensitive project involving harvested materials.

The town last spring documented efforts to work with members of the Nipmuc community and the state’s Department of Conservation & Recreation on proposals for harvesting in the short- and long-terms. It was explained that the materials would be used in part to build domed huts called wetus. There was discussion at the time at the Conservation Commission about using the proposals as an opportunity for public engagement on the traditional harvesting practice, done by local Indigenous people by hand and boat.

The town has also discussed enlisting our Nipmuc neighbors to help Natick address its challenges with beaver dams.


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Filed Under: Embracing diversity, Environment, Police & crime

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Visiting the Earth Friendly Fair on Natick Common

May 1, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

You could learn a few things at the Earth Friendly Fair that took place on Saturday, April 29 on Natick Common as part of Earth Day All Around Natick.

While I found myself yapping with friends about various inane things at first, I also heard at the Natick Trails tent about a vision for an accessible boardwalk going into the town forest where the beaver dam has flooded out a section of the trail near the Oak Street entrance. The big map of Natick trails helped to spread awareness that there might be a trail you’ve never explored not from from where you live.

The Friends of Network Trails, meanwhile, are readying a plan to get more native species planted along the Cochituate Rail Trail.

Earth Friendly Fair Natick Common Earth day All around natick

At a table promoting veganism and vegetarianism, I heard about ways to trick yourself into eating more good veggies and foods in your smoothies. I’d still be able to taste beets, so that’s not happening. I might try working in some beans though.

I kept a safe distance from the people in polar bear hats and costumes—that looked like it was going to be a long, intense conversation on climate change actions. They had plenty of other takers.

polar bear earth friendly fair

Members of the Natick Nipmuc community invited me to make a corn husk doll. I considered doing so, but opted for taking a photo instead of a focused young artist.

corn husk dolls

The Natick Sustainability Committee always has lots of balls in the air, and that was true this Saturday. It had just been involved with a tree planting demonstration at the high school (look for a Natick Pegasus video coming soon) to promote the town’s new “Planting the Future” program that focuses on providing free shade trees to residents living in areas where surface temperatures are higher than normal. Residents will be able to get vouchers to buy trees from local partners. The program, co-designed by the Natick High School Earth Club, theSustainability Committee, and the Department of Public Works, aims to plant 50 native shade trees on private properties by the end of 2024.

The Committee was also promoting its Heat Pump Par-Tay at the Community-Senior Center at 117 E. Central St. on May 15 at 7pm. Learn about heat pumps for heating and cooling your home. Pizza and snacks will be served.

I shared my tale of taking my electric lawn mower out for its first spin the day before. The battery made it the whole way, which surprised me. I wasn’t surprised though that the mower choked on high, wet grass. Overall, I think the mower and I will get along. It is way quieter than the gas guzzler. I also warned that if you’re going to try to snag a Mass Save rebate for buying electric lawn gear, you’ll want to get the rebate in hand BEFORE buying your stuff to save you some grief (Lowe’s was very nice about sorting this out for me at their Framingham store after calls to customer service proved ineffective).

Earth Friendly Fair Natick Common Earth day All around natick

The town’s Health Department was on hand to remind people about tick safety, and gave us a heads up that we’ll soon be hearing from them about Mental Health Awareness Month in May.

Natick Health Dept at earth friendly fair

Musicians helped keep everyone bopping from tent to tent.

singers at earth friendly fair

Earth Friendly Fair Natick Common Earth day All around natick

Earth Friendly Fair Natick Common Earth day All around natick


natick report green ad

Filed Under: Environment



Things to do in Natick in the spring

April 18, 2023 by Deborah Brown Leave a Comment

There’s always lots going on in Natick in springtime. Check out these upcoming events, and save the date for those further out.

Singing the praises of the kitchen

Walnut Hill School for the Arts will present a family concert, La Revue de Cuisine “The Story of the Kitchen Utensils,” Thursday, April 20, 10:30am at the Morse Institute Library. This program will feature live music and dance, including instruments such as the clarinet, cello, violin, trumpet, bassoon and piano. Families with children ages 4+ are invited to attend, and no registration is required.

DATE: Thursday, April 20
TIME: 10:30am
LOCATION: Morse Institute Library


Water, water, everywhere

NATya Dance will present a family-friendly interactive performance of Indian classical dance, “Water is Life, Life is Water,” in honor of Earth Day. Appropriate for families with children ages 4+, no registration required. Sponsored by Start with STEM.

DATE: Saturday, April 22
TIME: 2pm
LOCATION: Morse Institute Library


Bring home healthy food from the Farmers Market

The Natick Farmers Market takes place every Saturday, 9am-1pm. Most of the market’s 25 vendors are in indoors on two floors of the Common Street Spiritual Center, 13 Common Street, in Natick Center. Some vendors sell out of their trucks in the parking lot.

natick farmers market

Save the date:

Saturday, April 29 & 30: Earth Day All Around Natick events (Repair Cafe; Electrical Vehicle Petting Zoo; Earth Friendly Fair, and more.

Saturday, April 29: Metrowest Rocks concert to benefit Actor’s Company of Natick

Sunday, April 30: Family Promise Walk to End Homelessness

Filed Under: Community, Embracing diversity, Entertainment, Environment, Food, Kids, Morse Institute Library, Music

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Earth Day All Around Natick activities piling up for April 29-30

April 15, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

For the second year in a row, EcoNatick has organized a variety of events that celebrate the environment and share ways to help protect it. Events take place at locations across Natick on April 29-30 (Earth Day is technically on April 22, but those away for school vacation might not be here to celebrate it.).

Visit the events calendar to plan your attendance. There are still opportunities to volunteer.

New this year is a Repair Cafe at the Natick Community-Senior Center (117 E. Central St.) from 2-5pm on Saturday, April 29. Volunteers will be on hand to fix a variety of items: lamps, small furniture, jewelry, electronics, eyewear, etc. (be sure to bring any loose parts). There is no charge to bring items in.

Also new is an Electric Vehicle Petting Zoo in the parking lot next to Common Street Spiritual Center on April 29, 9am-1pm.

Another new feature will be an Earth Friendly Fair on Saturday, April 29, on Natick Common. Nearly 2 dozen booths will showcase environmentally-focused organizations, alongside the usual farmers’ market.

The weekend will feature a host of other activities, including home tours to explore gardens, lawn replacement, and geothermal heating/cooling. Goats will be doing their thing at JJ Lane Park, walks will take place in the woods and elsewhere in town, and clean-ups are slated for the rail trail and Johnson Elementary School. There’s something for everyone.

Some events require pre-registration, so do check the list of activities sooner than later.

Natick Earth Day, 8 Whispering Lane

green natick ad

Filed Under: Environment

Keeping Dug Pond beautiful in Natick

April 8, 2023 by Bob Brown Leave a Comment

Thanks to volunteers who braved chilly and windy conditions earlier this week to clean up Dug Pond, Blueberry Island and adjacent roadways.

Keep Natick Beautiful‘s Pat Conaway writes that “Sadly, these areas have been abused for decades and the trash footprint has been challenging. But thanks to years of relentless effort of volunteers from Keep Natick Beautiful, Scouts, corporate partners, the Natick High School Earth Club, and others it’s getting better.” This time around, Natick’s Cognex came through with a dozen volunteers.

keep natick beautiful dug pond cleanup cognex

keep natick beautiful dug pond cleanup cognex

Upcoming opportunities to help Keep Natick Beautiful:

  • Wed., 4/19, 9 am – Noon, MathWorks – KNB Cleanup at West Hill Park
  • Sun., 4/30, 3-5 pm, CRT (Cochituate Rail Trail) Clean-up at Amvets teaming up with Natick SPARK Kindness, Natick Rotary, and AMVETS.  Part of Earth Day All Around Natick.
  • Sat., 5/6, 9 am – Noon, Rte 135 Clean-up teaming up with Keep Framingham Beautiful with 2 staging locations.  One at TOSTI’s, one at The Roche Bros. parking Lot
  • Thurs., 5/18, 9 am – Noon, Keeping Natick Beautiful–Cognex Clean-up at Pegan Cove (removal of Invasive Species)
  • Thurs., 6/22, 9 am – Noon, Keeping Natick Beautiful–Cognex (25-30 volunteers).  Clean-up of Fisk Pond, Roche Bros. Settling Ponds (using canoes and kayaks), and adjacent trails (Henry Wilson and Middlesex Path)

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Filed Under: Environment

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