The series features a panel of Indigenous leaders, artists, and allies who speak about their work in the public realm, and address how symbols perpetuating colonial myths affect the lives of Indigenous people in the city and contribute to the public health emergency of racism.

In the second episode, we will hear from panelists Elizabeth Solomon,  co-founders of OPEN SYSTEMS, Heather Leavell, and Dr. Darlene Flores as they share their thoughts and work around topics such as the miseducation/lack of Indigenous culture and history in schools, the history of the Christopher Columbus monument at the city's waterfront, and Italian-Americans as allies of Indigenous people.

Discussion facilitated by Erin Genia, Sisseton-Wahpeton Dakota and Boston Artist-in-Residence.

Panelists: Elizabeth Solomon, member of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag,  Director of Administration in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health.

Pierre Bélanger, Ghazal Jafari, Pablo Escudero of OPEN SYSTEMS a design-based, non-profit research organization of builders, educators, and farmers, dedicated to opening systemic knowledge related to complex, socioecological challenges and geopolitical conflicts—at the intersection of land, water, environmental justice, spatial inequality, climate change, and community self-determination.

Heather Leavell, co-founder of Italian Americans for Indigenous Peoples Day 

Dr. Darlene Flores, United Federation of Taino People

Learn more about the Boston Artist-in-Residence program at www.boston.gov/boston-air