NORTHFIELD — As part of the year-long celebration of Northfield’s 350th anniversary, local historian David Brule will give a presentation on the town’s role in King Philip’s War between English colonists and Native Americans in the late 17th century.

The talk will be held Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Trinitarian Congregational Church, located at 147 Main St.

“There was a war right here,” Brule, a member of the Nehantic Tribal Council, said in an interview. “It is the most important historical event that happened in Greenfield, Montague, Northfield and arguably Deerfield. Hundreds of people died where we are standing ... and it’s a huge mystery to 90% of people around here.”

The title of the talk is “King Philip’s War in Your Backyard: from Sokoki to Peskeompskut, 1675-1676.” Brule’s talk will be divided into three parts. He will speak about Capt. Richard Beers and his soldiers being ambushed by Native Americans, and about Mary Rowlandson, a colonial American woman who wrote about her experience being captured by Native Americans and taken to Northfield during the war.

Additionally, Brule will give updates on the past decade of research that has been done by the Battlefield Grant Advisory Board about King Philip’s War. The group consists of historical commissioners from Montague, Deerfield, Greenfield, Gill and Northfield, and tribal representatives from the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians, the Aquinnah Wampanoag, the Elnu Abenaki and the Narragansett Indian Tribe. Over the past decade, they have received more than $200,000 in grants for research from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s National Park Service.

“The group allows Natives and historical commissioners to exchange points of view,” Brule said. “It is important for healing and carrying on reconciliation ceremonies.”

While the Northfield 350th celebration is a commemoration of the year colonial settlers founded the town, organizers are intentionally including events that focus on people who lived in the area now known as Northfield far longer than 350 years ago, with consultation from tribal leaders.

“It’s important to acknowledge that Native people inhabited the area for 16,000 years and pay tribute to all their work,” commented Joan Stoia, a member of the 350th Anniversary Committee.

“It has been heartening for Native people that both Northfield and Deerfield 350ths are recognizing this land is Indigenous homeland,” Brule said.

Saturday’s event is free and open to the public. For more information about this talk and other Northfield 350th activities throughout 2023, visit northfield350.org.

Bella Levavi can be reached at 413-930-4579 or blevavi@recorder.com.

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