Reflections on the June program of The Dorchester Historical Society from board member Edward Cook 
Reflections on the June program of The Dorchester Historical Society from board member Edward Cook:
Seldom, if ever, has the monthly program hosted by the Dorchester Historical Society had its agenda amplified in content and poignancy as it was this past Sunday.
Despite falling on Father’s Day, the June 16th event attracted a crowd with standing room only, filling the room even before the program began. One of the attendees, Bob Haas, attributed the size of the crowd to the subject of the afternoon. “People are interested in this topic.”
The program featured a talk by author Ed Quill about his book, When Last the Glorious Light: Lay of the Massachuset. Mr. Quill, a native of South Boston and a long-time writer and archivist at The Boston Globe, penned his book in order to fill what he saw as a historiographical gap: no books had previously been written about the tribe after whom the Commonwealth was named.
Shortly after Mr. Quill began his talk, a special group of attendees arrived. After Mr. Quill opened the floor to questions, two men in the audience self-identified as descendants of various indigenous peoples. Mr. Wompineequin Wompatuck introduced himself in the language of the Massachuset and translated the introduction into English. He is the Chief Sachem of the Mattakeeset people—a portion of the Wampatuck tribe of the Massachuset nation. He explained that the others with him were all from different parts of the Massachuset peoples.
One of the key points in his comments was that the Massachuset people still exist and are seeking official recognition from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for tribal status. He and the other Massachuset people recognized the contribution that Mr. Quill’s book made and respectfully emphasized the importance that they be included in all study of their people’s history so that their voice was heard. Mr. Quill noted the Massachuset source that had been consulted as a part of his researchand agreed by quoting a selection from his last chapter that, until the Massachuset people write their own history, there will be no true history of their people.
Several people in the audience expressed interest in learning more and supporting specific action to assist in the tribe in gaining official recognition status. Several tribe members expressed gratitude for these new allies and offered to help with further programs on the life and history of the Massachuset, past and present.