In celebration and observance of Indigenous People's Day, The Opening Doors Project and Belmont Against Racism (BAR) were proud to present a musical conversation with Thea Hopkins of the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe at Belmont High School's Black Box Theater.

Singer-songwriter Thea Hopkins describes her music as "Red Roots Americana," The Washington Post calls her a “standout writer.” Her song “The Ghost Of Emmett Till” was awarded Grand Prize by the Great American Song Contest in 2021, and Peter, Paul & Mary recorded her song "Jesus Is On The Wire" in 2004 and again in 2010 with the Prague Symphony Orchestra. She has performed at globalFEST at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and the Woody Guthrie Festival.

(We had planned to also host Thea's cousin, Linda Coombs, an author and historian who lives in the Wampanoag community of Mashpee on Cape Cod, but Linda had to cancel last minute due to flooding on the Cape. We will host her another time!).

This FREE community program was made possible by Belmont Against Racism; Belmont Public Schools' Department of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being; Somebody Else’s Child Foundation; Mass Cultural Council; and Filmmakers Collaborative.

Photography by Paul Locke