The Merrimack River Valley in Essex County, Massachusetts, has a rich history of Indigenous people and culture dating back at least 15,000 years. It’s a history that’s not well known in the region, and one that certainly hasn’t been taught in the local elementary schools.
I’ve been teaching at the River Valley Charter School in Newburyport for more than 20 years. Our charter explicitly states that students will receive an education that is rooted in the history, culture and ecology of the Merrimack River Valley.