The vote: change the flag and seal

In March 2023 the Partnership of Historic Bostons hosted the Campaign to Change the Massachusetts Flag and Seal in an important presentation by campaign members Elizabeth Solomon, elder of the Wampanoag at Ponkapog, Nipcmuc tribal member Brittney Whaley, and David Detmold. The question we put to the audience was: should the flag and seal change? If so, how? Given the historical nature of the image’s origins, should it be changed? The responses varied - some accused us of wokery and of being a-historical. But the speakers were persuasive, and most people in the audience concluded that it was time to think again. You can watch that presentation here to find out more about the history of the flag and seal. But first: David Detmold offers an update.

On Monday, July 29, 2024, governor Maura Healey signed off on a budget amendment to change the state flag and seal of Massachusetts. Her signature sets in motion a 12 month process whereby the governor will be tasked with appointing an advisory commission to complete the work of the former Special Commission on the Seal and Motto. The new commission will not have to review the history and meaning of the current flag, seal and motto - that’s been done.

The six Indigenous leaders who served on the Special Commission forged a consensus with their colleagues that the current state flag and seal are easily interpreted as a “celebration of the history of settler violence perpetrated against Indigenous people,” causing harm to the state’s Indigenous people as well as to those seeking to recognise the often brutal reality of Massachusetts’ past. In May 2022, the Special Commission voted unanimously that the current flag and seal needed to be completely revised.

The Puritans’ original, Garden-of-Eden version of Native people, mouthing the plea “Come over and help vs” - a justification for English colonization. Image: Wikimedia

The vote followed years of campaigning and education. Towns around the state engaged in debate and, starting with four towns in Franklin County in 2018, they began formal votes to decide whether to support a change. Today, the number of towns voting yes stands today at 82.

The amendment, co-sponsored by senators Jason Lewis, Jo Comerford and Becca Rausch,  also requires the development of a public educational process “to help residents understand the local Indigenous history and the historical underpinnings of the previous and new seals, mottos and flags from an Indigenous perspective.”

What will the new flag and seal look like? We don’t yet know.

The new advisory commission agreed by the governor, will have a year to present the legislature with a finished design for a new, aspirational flag and seal, by soliciting design concepts from the general public, and winnowing the entries to the top three. It will hold hearings around the state, select a finalise, and hire a professional designer to create finished artwork for the new look flag and seal.

If all goes well, by the end of summer 2025, we should see the results of that process: a new flag, seal and motto for the Commonwealth - a flag for all its people.

"May the new flag lead to renewed, respectful dialogue between the settler society and indigenous nations - not only in massachuetts, but nationwide”

Thanks are due to all the activists and organizers across the Commonwealth who worked steadfastly for years advocating in support of the call of Indigenous leaders for this long overdue change. 

May it lead to renewed, respectful dialogue and meaningful relations between the settler society and Indigenous nations, not only in Massachusetts, but throughout the country.

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