71 Hedges Pond Road, Plymouth: The Site is part of the Great Lot, the original allotment of land by the colonial government to the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe. Despite multiple calls for an archeological survey, the site was destroyed by developers.
Ancients point found at the location of a sand mine in Carver, where the MHC signed off, saying "no significant research value." The site is now completely destroyed by sand mining.
Halifax: Despite multiple sources documenting Indigenous presence at the Whaleback esker in Halifax, the MHC refuses to intervene to stop the sand mining permit.
71 Hedges Pond Road, Plymouth: The Site is part of the Great Lot, the original allotment of land by the colonial government to the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe. Despite multiple calls for an archeological survey, the site was destroyed by developers.
For over 60 years the Massachusetts Historical Commission has evaded laws and used taxpayer dollars to erase Indigenous history within the Commonwealth
Facts
Read the facts about the National Historic Preservation Act, and how the MHC evades the law to exclude Indigenous culture from preservation.
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Evidence
Read our extensive collection of leaked documents containing evidence that show MHC's deliberate destruction of Indigenous sites.
HISTORY DESTROYED
The untouched landscapes in Massachusetts contain the cultural legacy of its original inhabitants and are inseparable from Indigenous history and identity.
The Massachusetts Historical Commission (MHC) is the state board responsible for preserving Indigenous history within the Commonwealth.
But for over 60 years the MHC has permitted countless Indigenous cultural and historical sites to be bulldozed, buried and destroyed during new infrastructure projects.
HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?
The MHC has never elected an Indigenous member to its Board during its 60 year history. It holds a deep cultural bias towards Colonial history and lacks the expertise to recognize Indigenous cultural landscapes.
The leadership of the MHC have conflicts of interest, holding multiple offices within the State government. These offices have financial incentives to receive federal grants for infrastructure projects on untouched land.
This commission operates entirely in secrecy. They not allow Indigenous people to view archeological reports after they are complete.
The MHC is allowed to determine, through the review of archeological reports, that Indigenous cultural sites have "no significant research value," which permits them to be destroyed.
Their cultural bias, financial fraud and secrecy desecrates and destroys the rich tapestry of Indigenous culture contained within the land.