Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson/winstedphoenix.org

On Nov. 11, traditional Columbus Day, a group of Norfolk residents gathered together to celebrate the new federal holiday, Indigenous Peoples’ Day. After meeting at noon on the village green, the group walked in procession to “speaker’s rock” in Barbour Woods, where they offered songs, poems and prayers in honor of Indigenous peoples, both in the United State and around the world, and in support of efforts to combat climate change. The event was sponsored by several organizations: Healing Nest, Norfolk Climate Coalition, Norfolk Hub, the Norfolk Land Trust, the library and the United Church of Christ.