New Exhibit In Newton Highlights 17th Century Native Experiences

NEWTON, MA — A new virtual exhibit from Historic Newton and the Natick Historical Society highlights the experiences of Massachusett and Nipmuc people between 1646 and 1660 in the area that is now Newton and Natick.

The exhibit, “I Heard that Word,” looks at the difficult choices that Indigenous people faced at the hands of unchecked English expansion and how John Eliot’s Christian mission impacted those decisions. The exhibit is timely, as both communities reckon with whether to redesign their municipal seals, which each show Eliot preaching to an audience of Native people.

The collaborative exhibit brings together the expertise and resources of two historical institutions to offer an in-depth look at Native people who converted to Christianity and lived in mission settlements. The project aims for a balance of Indigenous and European perspectives and a more inclusive and expansive approach to the story.

The exhibit text is informed by the writings of John Eliot and other English missionaries, testimonies of Massachusett and Nipmuc people who lived during this time, the work of contemporary historians, and the published words of Indigenous people today who have ancestral ties to this history.

“This project was created out of an intensive partnership between two historical institutions, creating an exciting, trustworthy, and valuable product about a key time in the history of each community,” Lisa Dady, director of Historic Newton, said in a statement.

“We’re excited to share this resource because it gives people an opportunity to learn more about and wrestle with the complexity of these ‘founding moments’ in historical context," Niki Lefebvre, director of the Natick Historical Society, said in a statement. "Many Indigneous people shaped 17th-century Newton and Natick by making hard and courageous choices–their stories need to be at the center of our understanding."

Historic Newton operates two museums, the Jackson Homestead (a former stop on the Underground Railroad) and the Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds, and presents programs that inspire discovery and engagement in history.

The Natick Historical Society was founded in 1870. Its mission is to build community by inspiring connections to local history.