by Craig Simpson
This was the fourth year Mass. Peace Action has had a table at the Indigenous Peoples Day-Newton event. It is the largest IPD event in Massachusetts. Tribes from all over New England come to Newton this year to the North Newton High School, where this year’s event was held due to the rains and winds outside. Hundreds of people crowded the hallways and the school cafeteria to celebrate with discussion and dancing. Business at the MAPA the table (shared with Community Land and Water Coalition) was non-stop. We had lots of material and projects and highlighting many Indigenous issues we supported. I find it an amazing time to connect with Indigenous leaders walking the halls. Melissa Ferretti, Chair of the Herring Pond Wampanoag, spent time telling us about the politics of our time and its impact on their small tribe. Paula Peters of the Native Land Conservancy told us about some new land they were looking at acquiring. Brittany Walley of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc band updated us on the Flag and Seal debate at the State House.
Hartman Deetz of the Mashpee Wampanoag danced and showed his crafts and jewelry. Darlene DeLuca of Cultural Survival updated us on her work and of the Italians for Indigenous Peoples Day. We have worked closely with all of them over many years now. And after all, IPD brings together Indigenous peoples and their allies.
Susan Mirsky, our MAPA powerhouse, did an all day shift at the table to call people to action. She was asking passersby to support a climate bill, H.4145, currently in the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, but to make an exception and to reject Section 45, which was placed in by Governor Maura Healy to repeal a 1982 referendum law prohibiting nuclear power reactors without voter approval. Governor Healy is betraying the people of Massachusetts by avoiding a public outcry against Nukes. This is a deceptive move and she is trying to present nuclear power as a green alternative, which it is not.
We discussed the nuclear energy industry and its major push to build smaller nuclear power plants around the country, and how the Trump administration is reinforcing fossil fuels infrastructure, going against all research about the impending climate destruction that is resulting.
But I was quickly reminded because of news from New Mexico that HOLTEC company, who is now running the cleanup of Pilgrim Nuclear Plant in Plymouth, Mass, has given up on their nuclear waste site plants in New Mexico and Texas, where they planned to store toxic nuclear waste temporarily until a long-term solution is found (Read: never). Holtech has given up on New Mexico particularly because of Indigenous and ally resistance in the State. They have stood up to this industry because of their experience with the mining and milling and Los Alamos and Sandia nuclear weapons laboratories deceptions since WWII.
This victory can help show state governors should not support the reintroduction of nuclear power plants, even though lured by tech companies and increased building of data centers for AI. Let us hope that Gov. Maura Healey will come to her senses — which seems unlikely since she has backed away from many of her former commitments she was elected on. Let us keep up the pressure.
Craig Simpson is coordinator of MAPA’s Indigenous Solidarity Action Group