Red Hook Watch

Indigenous History Proposal

At first glance, It may seem that devoting Village resources to hire a historian is outside our purview. However, the State of New York deems making our shared history available to the public as vital to the public interest; it is one of our mandated duties which we assign to a public historian for our municipality every year.

In 1919 Governor Al Smith signed Law 57.07 known as “Historians Law” which mandates that each town, village and city assign a person to the position of public historian. In past years we have had Marist professor and Village resident, Sally Dwyer-McNulty act as our Village historian. When the committee started this project in 2022, I emailed her asking for recommendations. And, it has been experts like her that helped us realize we would need to work with a historian who specializes in indigenous history.

The challenge has been that there aren’t local historians who specialize in this area. Those historical summaries we do have for Red Hook refer broadly to indigenous communities’ existence before European settlement which is good, yet limited. The committee seeks a more detailed inquiry that also includes resources to connect with those indigenous communities today.

Communities are strengthened when they know, understand and talk openly about their history. We’re connected to history as we live in its legacy, so knowledge of how we got here allows us important perspectives on our present

Public Historian Heather Breugl is a well-known specialist and educator in indigenous history. She has worked in Hudson Valley for other institutions. Her vast experience means she comes to this sensitive history with knowledge and sources that local historians can’t access. Additionally, Breugl has experience sharing and teaching indigenous history with the public at large. For reference I have attached a Hudson River View article that reviews that experience and the institutions where she has shared it.

How we center the stories we tell ourselves is a reflection of our values. The Board’s approval of this project proposal will be a demonstration of our shared belief that the Village serves our community best when we lead with integrity, taking opportunities to craft inclusive, visionary projects for public benefit.

PROPOSAL

Prepared by: Heather Bruegl hbruegl2014@gmail.com www.heatherbruegl.com

V I L L A G E O F R E D H O O K , N Y

Thank you so much for contacting me to work on this project for the Village. I am excited to begin this great work with you and hope this is just the beginning of some great work. Here is an updated scope of work to continue that work.

Research the area that now makes up the Village of Red Hook, NY
- a. Conduct research on the history of the area, the surrounding areas, and Dutchess County
- b. Research the Indigenous history of the area, surrounding areas, and Dutchess County
Put research into a narrative that will live on the Village website
- a.
- Provide narrative with a fuller history
- b. Provide links, resources, suggested readings, documentary recommendations, podcasts, etc. for people to utilize to further their own learning
Provide signage for area park
- a. Work on and write signage for area park that can also be used a reflection space for people when learning about Indigenous history
Indigenous Peoples Day Proclamation
- a. Assist in the writing of the a proclamation for the Village to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day

This will hopefully lay the groundwork to the Village eventually working on and writing a land acknowledgement.

T I M E L I N E

Timeline will be agreed upon by myself and the Village

C O S T

Fee for all scopes of work- $3,500

Payment schedule can be worked out

Agreement to the terms in the proposal

Village of Red Hook

______________________________________ Heather Bruegl

Date