TORI: I AM TORI BEDFORD.

TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, DO YOU WAS AID TO UKRAINE IS STILL UNCERTAIN AFTER THE COUNTRY'’S PRESIDENT MET WITH OFFICIALS IN D.C. TODAY.

MASSACHUSETTS CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS JOINS US TO DISCUSS HIS REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES STANDING IN THE WAY OF MORE SUPPORT IN THE LOOMING THREAT OF ANOTHER GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

THEN, AS THE CITY OF BOSTON MOVES FORWARD WITH EFFORTS TO REBUILD AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER ON LONG ISLAND, WHAT IS BEING DONE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISLAND'’S THOUSANDS OF UNMARKED NATIVE AMERICAN GRAVES.

TWO ADVOCATES WHO RAISE CONCERNS JOIN ME.

ANOTHER $300 MILLION.

THAT IS WHAT PRESIDENT BIDEN IS SENDING TO HIS UKRAINIAN COUNTERPART.

THAT IS AFTER VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY'’S TRIP TO WASHINGTON TO ASK FOR MORE U.S. SUPPORT IN HIS COUNTRY'’S.

BIDEN IS ALSO PUSHING FOR SEVERAL BILLION DOLLARS MORE IN AID.

BUT A GROUP OF REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING BACK AND ISSUE IS ONE OF SEVERAL STICKING POINTS.

THAT COULD END IN A GOVERNMENT SHUT DOWN IF LAWMAKERS CANNOT REACH A DEAL BY THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

TO DISCUSS I AM JOINED BY CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS OF NEWTON, A FORMER MARINE WHO SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND A MEMBER OF THE HOUSE SUBCOMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND MONETARY POLICY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

SO, WHERE ARE WE NOW?

I WANTED TO REFERENCE, THERE WAS A CNN POLL IN JULY THAT ASKED CITIZENS IF THE U.S. SHOULD GIVE ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO UKRAINE IN THE WAR WITH RUSSIA.

IT WAS SPLIT ALMOST ON THE MIDDLE.

YES, 45%, NO, 55%.

IT SEEMS THAT AFTER THIS MEETING TODAY -- THEY DID NOT DO A PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT WHERE DO WE STAND NOW IN TERMS OF THE BATTLE FOR FUNDING FOR UKRAINE?

JAKE: GOOD AFTERNOON AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

THIS MORNING WHEN PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY ARRIVED AT THE U.S. CAPITOL WAS ABLE TO GREET HIM.

I SHOOK HIS HAND AND TOLD HIM FACE-TO-FACE, CONGRESS WILL BE WITH YOU.

AND THE TRUTH IS, CONGRESS IS WITH HIM.

WE HAVE 300 VOTES RIGHT NOW TO GO TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AND APPROVE $24 BILLION IN FURTHER INTO UKRAINE.

THE SENATE WOULD PASS IT SAME DAY.

WHAT IS HAPPENING IS THAT SPEAKER MCCARTHY IS CAVING TO HIS EXTREME RIGHT WING.

HE IS ALLOWING MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE TO WRITE U.S. FOREIGN POLICY RIGHT NOW AS OPPOSED TO PUTTING THE UKRAINIAN FIGHT FOR THE FREE WORLD IN THE PRIORITY POSITION WHERE IT BELONGS.

TORI: YOU MENTIONED A SPEAKER MCCARTHY.

HE HAS A FACTION WHO ARE ADAMANTLY AGAINST THIS.

DOES THAT HAVE ENOUGH POWER TO ACTUALLY PREVENT THIS FROM GOING THROUGH?

JAKE: ULTIMATELY, NO.

WE DON'’T HAVE A MATH PROBLEM IN CONGRESS.

THERE IS A SUPER MAJORITY TO PAST THE AGE UKRAINE NEEDS.

THE REASON THERE IS A SUPER MAJORITY IS BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD IDEA.

FOR PERCENTAGE POINTS OF THE PENTAGON'’S ANNUAL BUDGET WE HAVE CRATERED HALF A RUSSIA'’S CONVENTIONAL MILITARY CAPACITY, WE HAVE REDUCED INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING FROM OUR ALLIES, WE HAVE SENT A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE AUTOCRAT IN THE KREMLIN, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TO THE AUTOCRAT IN BEIJING, THAT THE U.S.

STANDS WITH FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY.

THIS HAS BEEN THE HIGHEST RETURN IN INVESTMENT IN NATIONAL SECURITY DOLLARS IN MY ENTIRE LIFETIME, AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS WISELY GATHER THIS COURSE OF ACTION.

BUT KEVIN MCCARTHY DOES NOT CARE ABOUT WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE UNITED STATES OR UKRAINE.

HE CARES ABOUT WHAT DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO TWEET TOMORROW.

AND DONALD TRUMP HAS, FOR WEIRD PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES OF HIS OWN, DECIDED HE IS SYMPATHETIC TO VLADIMIR PUTIN.

TORI: SO, YOU ARE SAYING THAT EVEN WITH THAT OPPOSITION, IT STILL SEEMS LIKELY THAT ZELENSKYY'’S VISIT CHANGED SOME HEARTS AND MINDS TODAY.

DOES THAT SEEM LIKE THE CASE?

DOES IT SEEM LIKE HE WAS ABLE TO PERSUADE PEOPLE TO MOVE IN THAT DIRECTION?

JAKE: I HAD A DEBRIEF WITH A LAWMAKERS WHO MET WITH HIM ONE-ON-ONE.

THE MORE IMPORTANT PORT HERE IS OF VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY DOESN'’T HAVE TO PERSUADE MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

MOST MEMBERS OF CONGRESS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE UNDERSTAND THE IMPERATIVE TO SUPPORT UKRAINE.

I OFTEN TELL MY COLLEAGUES THAT IF THEY WANT TO BE TOUGH ON CHINA, THEY MUST BE TOUGH ON RUSSIA.

IF YOU ARE WEAK ON RUSSIA, YOU ARE WEAK ON CHINA.

BUT RIGHT NOW THE TAIL IS WAGGING THE DOG.

EXTREME MAGA REPUBLICANS ARE OPEN SYMPATHETIC TO RUSSIA AND DO NOT WANT TO SUPPORT UKRAINIANS AS THEY FIGHT ON THE FREE LINES OF THE FREE WORLD.

BUT THERE HASN'’T A WAS BEEN A FIFTH COLUMN IN AMERICAN FOREIGN POLICY MAKING.

WHAT IS UNIQUE ABOUT RIGHT NOW IS WE HAVE A SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE WHO IS CAVING TO IT.

NOT ONLY CAN HE NOT KEEP THE LIGHTS ON IN OUR OWN DEMOCRACY, HE WILL NOT EVEN STAND FOR DEMOCRACY OVERSEAS.

TORI: THERE ARE OF COURSE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS THAT NEED TO BE WEIGHED.

I WANT TO PLAY THIS COLLEAGUE FROM SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY ON CAPITOL HILL TODAY.

HE MET WITH ZELENSKYY AS WELL.

>> WHAT THE MEETING REVEALED TO ME IS THAT IN THE WORDS OF PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, THAT THE CONFLICT IS A TOTAL STALEMATE.

THE QUESTION FOR THE UNITED STATES IS, WHAT IS IT THAT WE ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH, AND AT WHAT COST?

IF WE ARE GOING TO SPEND ANOTHER $100 BILLION, FOR WHAT?

MEANWHILE OUR SOUTHERN BORDERS ARE ON THE STATE OF COLLAPSE AND CHINA IS ON THE MARCH IN THE PACIFIC.

TORI: HE MENTIONS CONCERNS ABOUT HOW REALISTIC A MILITARY VICTORY IS IN UKRAINE, OR IF WE ARE JUST FUNDING A OR OF ATTRITION OR A STALEMATE.

WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?

JAKE: AT THIS POINT IN WORLD WAR II, MOST OF EUROPE WAS STILL UNDER NAZI DOMINION.

THEY WERE PEOPLE LIKE SENATOR JOSH HAWLEY BACK THEN WHO WERE OFFERING CAPITULATION AND APPEASEMENT.

HISTORY PROVED THEM WRONG.

HISTORY WILL PROVE HIM WRONG AGAIN.

WHAT SENATOR HAWLEY AND SENATOR VANCE ARE SO GOOD AT IS INTELLECTUALIZING THEIR ARGUMENTS, THAT IT SOUNDS SOPHISTICATED.

LET ME TELL YOU WHAT THEY ARE REALLY DOING.

THEY ARE AFRAID OF DONALD TRUMP.

THEY ARE AFRAID OF A MAGA PRIMARY BACK HOME AND THEY ARE DRINKING IN THE CULT OF PERSONALITY THAT SURROUNDS DONALD TRUMP.

AND THEY ARE WILLING TO DRESS UP THEIR CONTRIVED RELATIONS.

WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IS THEY ARE AFRAID OF HIM.

IF TOMORROW HE GOT A CONCUSSION AND HE WAS TWEETING OUT IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE, YOU WOULD HEAR JOSH HAWLEY USING BIG WORDS AGAIN AS TO WHY HE WAS NOW IN FAVOR OF UKRAINE.

THERE IS NOT A SERIOUS ARGUMENT ON THE OTHERS HE IS PROPOSING.

AGAIN, HE CLAIMS TO BE STRONG ON CHINA.

HE IS NOT.

IF YOU ARE WEAK, UNDERSTAND THAT XI JINPING IS LOOKING AT A MYSTIC TO MYSTIC POLITICS AND THE FIGHT AND THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE EVERY SINGLE DAY AS A BAROMETER OF AMERICAN RESOLVE FOR OUR 21ST CENTURY CONTEST IN THE INDO PACIFIC.

TORI: HE ALSO RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT OVERSIGHT OF THE FUNDS.

AS I UNDERSTAND IT RIGHT NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN RECENT COUNTERATTACKS FROM UKRAINE FURTHER AND FURTHER INTO RUSSIA.

BUT MANY OF THESE ATTACKS ARE BEING LED, FUNDING FOR THE MILITARY FROM CIVILIANS, FROM SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERS, FROM PEOPLE PURCHASING MILITARY EQUIPMENT AND SENDING IT TO THE MILITARY.

WILL THERE BE OVERSIGHT OF THESE FUNDS IF THEY ARE PAST?

JAKE: THEIR ALREADY HAS BEEN.

THIS IS ANOTHER CONFABULATION FROM THE GOP CLAIMING WHAT WE NEED IS MORE AUDITING, MORE INSPECTORS TO OVERSEE THE FUNDS.

STATE, DEFENSE, THE WHITE HOUSE, HAS A RIGOROUS PLAN IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE U.S.

TAXPAYER IS HAVING THEIR FUNDS GO TO WHERE THEY ARE DIRECTED.

INDEED, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY HAS ENSURE THOSE FUNDS ARE SENT TO HIGHEST IMPACT.

WHEN HE HAS LOST CONFIDENCE THAT IS HAPPENING, HE HAS PROVEN VERY WILLING TO FIRE EVEN SENIOR OFFICIALS.

WE CANNOT ALLOW THESE MARGINAL, WHAT ABOUT IS HIM ARGUMENTS TO DISTRACT US FROM THE CORE IMPERATIVE.

UKRAINE IS STANDING UP AGAINST AN AUTOCRATIC, MURDEROUS REGIME.

THEY ARE DEMONSTRATING AT A TIME WHEN XI JINPING AND VLADIMIR PUTIN ARE CLAIMING THE WEST IS IN DECLINE AND DYSFUNCTION, THAT, NO, INDEED, FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY CAN BE ON THE MARCH A GUN.

TORI: SO WHERE WILL THE FUNDS GO?

JAKE: THE FUNDS WILL GO FUNCTIONALLY TO MILITARY AID, THEY NEED MORE MUNITIONS, THEY NEED IMPROVED INTELLIGENCE SUPPORT AND TRACKING SUPPORT, THEY NEED MATERIAL, THEY NEED TRAINING.

IT WILL ALSO GO TO ECONOMIC AID.

MUCH OF THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT'’S FUNDING TO KEEP THEIR OWN BASIC SERVICES OPERATING COMES FROM FOREIGN AID.

THE EUROPEAN UNION HAS BEEN GENEROUS, THE U.S. HAS BEEN GENEROUS, BUT WE NEED TO KEEP THEIR ECONOMY AND GOVERNMENT INFLOW.

TORI: ANOTHER ASPECT OF THAT IS STRENGTHENING THEIR AIR DEFENSES.

SOME HAVE SAID THIS WAR WILL NOT END UNTIL IT ENDS UP IN MOSCOW.

IS THAT WHERE YOU SEE THIS GOING?

I KNOW PEOPLE HAVE ALSO PREDICTED WE ARE GOING INTO ANOTHER BRAND -- ANOTHER BRUTAL WINTER PERIOD.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING AT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS?

JAKE: I DON'’T KNOW WHO SAID THIS WAR WILL NOT END UNTIL IT IS IN MOSCOW.

WHAT IS TRUE IS AIR PRIMACY IS VITAL IN WAR.

NO WESTERN MILITARY, LEAST OF ALL THE U.S., WOULD EVER SEND INFANTRY INTO THREE LINES OF ENTRENCHMENTS, WELL FORTIFIED, WITHOUT CLOSE AIR SUPPORT.

AS A FORMER INFANTRY OFFICER, CLOSE AIR SUPPORT IS THE DIFFERENCE MAKER.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING THE UKRAINIAN ARMY TO DO.

AND THEY ARE DOING IT.

THEY ARE DOING IT WITH UNBELIEVABLE VALOR AND TECHNICAL PROWESS BUT THEY ARE DOING IT WITHOUT AIR SUPPORT.

THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO MAKE HASTE IN PROCURING THE F-16'’S ALONG THE TRAINING AND PILOTS THEY NEED BECAUSE THE F-16'’S COULD BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER.

LET ME TALK ABOUT THE COUNTEROFFENSIVE AND WHERE IT IS GOING.

THEY ARE DEPLOYING A STAR OF STRETCH STRIKE METHODOLOGY, WHICH IS TO SAY IT IS A HUGE FRONT THE RUSSIANS HAVE ATTACKED.

THEY CANNOT -- THEY ARE PUNCTURING AREAS OF WEAKNESS AND WIDENING THAT PUNCTURE HOLE TO CUT THE LAND BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS RUSSIA WITH CRIMEA AND THEREFORE MAKE THE RUSSIAN POSITION UNTENABLE.

THIS IS A GOOD STRATEGY.

THE UKRAINIANS ARE EXECUTING IT WELL.

BUT IT TAKES TIME AND IT TAKES MORE MUNITIONS AND MORE WESTERN SUPPORT.

TORI: I UNDERSTAND POLAND OVERNIGHT PULLED OUT THEIR WEAPONS SUPPORT.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR THE OVERALL PICTURE?

JAKE: IT MEANS POLAND IS UPSET WITH COMPETITION FOR THEIR GRAIN INDUSTRY BECAUSE POLAND HAS -- POLAND IS WORRIED IT AFFECTS THEIR OWN BIG RONNIE.

-- AGRONOMY.

POLAND HAVE BEEN A TERRIFIC SUPPORTER.

THEY HAVE BEEN AN EARLY AND FORCEFUL ADVOCATE FOR STRONG AND UNIFIED ACTION AGAINST RUSSIA BECAUSE POLAND OF ALL COUNTRIES KNOWS WHAT RUSSIA LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT IS ON THE MARCH AGAINST NATIONS TO ITS WEST.

BUT POLAND NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO PROVIDE THESE WEAPONS AND SUPPORT AND I HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN, WITH OTHER EUROPEAN UNION ALLIES, CAN HELP NEGOTIATE A REASONABLE SOLUTION TO THIS.

TORI: THIS TIME PERIOD WE'’RE IN RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS A CRITICAL TIME IN THIS WAR.

WHY IS THAT?

JAKE: EVERY MOMENT HAS BEEN A CRITICAL TIME IN THIS WAR.

THE INITIAL OFFENSIVE AGAINST KYIV WAS A CRITICAL TIME IN THIS WAR.

NOW IS A CRITICAL TIME IN THIS WAR.

THE UKRAINIANS HAVE NOT DEMONSTRATED ANY DEEP MUNITION IN THEIR RESOLVE TO FIGHT.

WHAT IS HIS WESTERN RESOLVE TO BACK THEM.

THAT IT IS IS IS -- THAT IS A DECISION THAT LEADERS IN WASHINGTON NEED TO REVERSE.

DOES SPEAKER MCCARTHY WANT TO BE ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF DONALD TRUMP, OR THE RIGHT SIDE OF HISTORY?

TORI: YOU MENTIONED THE SPIRIT OF UKRAINIANS TO FIGHT EVEN WITHOUT RESOURCES.

EVEN RIGHT NOW IT COMES DOWN TO MONEY.

I MENTIONED PREVIOUSLY THESE PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS WHO HAVE COME TOGETHER TO RAISE MONEY WHO ARE ACTIVELY WORKING IN A GRASSROOTS WAY TO PUSH THESE ATTACKS FURTHER INTO RUSSIA, OR COUNTERACTS TO SUPPORT THE MILITARY.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT THAT ASPECT OF THINGS?

IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT THEY ARE MISSING IS FUNDING, AND YET THEY ARE PUSHING FORWARD.

JAKE: YOU KNOW, WHAT I HAVE TAKEN FROM THIS INCREDIBLE GRASSROOTS SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, AND I FEEL IT IN MY OWN DISTRICT, MY COLLEAGUES FEEL IT IN THEIR DISTRICTS, AND OF COURSE WE SEE IT FROM THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AS WELL.

IT IS THAT SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE DEMOCRACIES OF THE WEST HAVE BEEN HUNGRY FOR A GALVANIZING CALL TO ACTION.

SINCE 9/11 AND THE GREAT RECESSION THERE HAS BEEN A SENSE OF MORAL AMBIGUITY AND LISTLESSNESS AMONG SO MANY OF OUR NATIONS.

XI JINPING AND VLADIMIR PUTIN HAVE PREYED UPON THAT.

AND THIS HAS BEEN A WAKE-UP CALL.

THIS HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR.

AND PEOPLE HAVE RESPONDED.

TORI: I MENTIONED THAT CNN POLL AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SEGMENT, JUST FROM CITIZENS.

IT WAS ABOUT SPLIT HALF-AND-HALF, BUT LARGELY NEGATIVE ABOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT.

WHY DO YOU THINK CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY SHOULD BE INVESTED IN OUR INVOLVEMENT IN UKRAINE?

JAKE: ONE, SUPPORTING UKRAINE BRINGS PEACE CLOSER TO HAND.

WE HAVE KNOWN FOR DECADES THAT PEACE COMES THROUGH STRENGTH AND THAT APPEASEMENT IS A FAILED STRATEGY.

WHEN YOU FEED THE CROCODILE, THE CROCODILE STAYS HUNGRY.

AND VLADIMIR PUTIN AND THE KREMLIN WILL NOT REST UNTIL THEY HAVE ALL OF UKRAINE, POLAND, ROMANIA, AND THE STAKES WILL GET HIGHER AND THE EXPENSE WILL BE GREATER IF WE DELAY THE RIGHTEOUS FIGHT.

NUMBER TWO, XI JINPING IS WATCHING.

WE KNOW THAT OUR NEAR-PEER ADVERSARY WILL BE THE CHINESE COMMUNIST PARTY.

WE KNOW THEY DON'’T SHARE OUR VALUES.

THEY DO NOT UPHOLD THE RULES-BASED INTERNATIONAL ORDER.

THE WEAKNESS THAT XI JINPING DOES OR DOES NOT DETECT IN UKRAINE IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO HIS ACTIONS AGAINST TAIWAN, AND POTENTIALLY A FAR GREATER CONFLICT.

FINALLY, IT IS JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO.

WE HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO ENGAGE IN FOREIGN ADVENTURISM, PARTICULARLY AFTER AFGHANISTAN AND IRAQ.

I KNOW THERE IS LIMITED APPETITE.

BUT I WOULD REMIND PEOPLE THAT WE DO NOT HAVE TROOPS ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE.

WE ARE NOT FIGHTING FOREVER WARS IN UKRAINE.

THE UKRAINIANS ARE FIGHTING THEIR OWN FIGHT, AND THEY ARE SIMPLY ASKING THAT WE STAND SHOULDER TO SHOULDER WITH THEM.

TORI: YOU MENTIONED AFGHANISTAN.

DO YOU THINK THERE IS FATIGUE?

YOU HAD YOUR OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OBVIOUSLY.

THE THINK THERE IS A FATIGUE FROM CIVILIANS IN AMERICA BECAUSE OF THOSE FOREVER WARS?

JAKE: I THINK THE FOREVER WARS AND IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN HAVE REMINDED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC -- AMERICA HAS NOT LIKED TO ENGAGE IN OVERSEAS CONFLICT AT ALL.

IT HAS ALWAYS PREFERRED TO STAY BETWEEN ITS TWO OCEANS.

THOSE TWO FAILED FOREVER WARS REMINDED US WE SHOULD BE INCREDIBLY SKEPTICAL OF WARS OVERSEAS.

BUT IN UKRAINE WE HAVE A STRONG HOST COUNTRY.

IN UKRAINE WE HAVE A CLEAR MISSION.

IN AFGHANISTAN WE HAD NO MISSION.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, IN UKRAINE WE HAVE NO TROOPS FIGHTING.

TOTALLY DIFFERENT.

TORI: CONGRESSMAN JAKE AUCHINCLOSS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

CENTURIES BEFORE BOSTON'’S LONG ISLAND WAS HOME TO AN ADDICTION TREATMENT CENTER AND A HOMELESS SHELTER, BRITISH COLONISTS IMPRISONED THOUSANDS OF NATIVE PEOPLE IN CONCENTRATION CAMPS ON THE ISLAND.

NOW INDIGENOUS ACTIVISTS ARGUE THE CITY IS PUTTING THEIR ANCESTOR'’S REMAINS AND OTHER ARTIFACTS AT RISK AS THE ADMINISTRATION PUSHES AHEAD WITH EFFORTS TO RESTORE ACCESS TO THE ISLAND AND ITS ADDICTION RESOURCES, WHICH WERE CAUGHT OFF IN 2014.

ALONG WITH OFFICIALS FROM QUINCY WHO ALSO OPPOSE THE CITY'’S PLANS, A LOCAL TRIBE HAS FOUGHT FOR REVIEW, BUT SO FAR THEY HAVE BEEN DENIED.

I AM JOINED NOW BY JEAN-LUC PIERITE, PRESIDENT OF THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER OF BOSTON, AND J. CORREA, PRESIDENT OF THE ECONOMY A SOCIETY OF BOSTON.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

SO, YOU HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR SOME KIND OF REPRESENTATION HERE.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'’T KNOW ABOUT THE GENOCIDE AND THE ETHNIC CLEANSING THAT OCCURRED SPECIFICALLY ON THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS.

CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE ABOUT THAT HISTORY?

JEAN-LUC: YES.

AUGUST 30, 1675, WAS PROCLAMATION DAY.

THIS WAS A DAY IN WHICH AN ORDER WENT OUT FROM THE COUNCIL AT BOSTON TO CONFINE AMERICAN INDIANS TO THEIR PLANTATIONS.

ULTIMATELY, EVERY AMERICAN INDIAN WITHIN THE AREA WAS THEN CONFINED TO THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS IN THAT FIRST CONCENTRATION CAMP AND LEFT OUT TO THE ELEMENTS.

THIS WAS A PART OF THE BROADER WAR OF RESISTANCE POPULARLY KNOWN AS THE KING PHILIP'’S WAR.

SO, BECAUSE OF THAT CONFINEMENT, BECAUSE OF THAT CONCENTRATION CAMP, WE NOW HAVE THOUSANDS OF GRAVES.

IN THE MID-1990'’S THERE WAS CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENT AROUND DEAR ISLAND.

AND TODAY WE HAVE A SIMILAR STRUGGLE AROUND LONG ISLAND, AND A CONTINUED PUSH TO PROTECT THOSE GRAVES THAT ARE ON THE ISLAND.

TORI: WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT NOW?

IS THAT A HISTORICALLY PROTECTED SITE?

JEAN-LUC: IN 1996, THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS WAS ESTABLISHED AS A NATIONAL RECREATION AREA.

AND THERE WAS A MANAGEMENT PLAN THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO GO ALONG WITH THAT.

THAT WAS NOT NECESSARILY ALL THE WAY DEVELOPED.

AND SINCE THE ACTUAL ESTABLISHMENT OF THAT NATIONAL RECREATION AREA, THERE WAS AN ADVISORY COUNCIL WHICH INCLUDED MEMBERS OF LOCAL TRIBES, ESPECIALLY ELIZABETH SOLOMON OF THE MASSACHUSETTS TRIBE WAS ONE OF THE MEMBERS.

UNFORTUNATELY DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ADVISOR COUNCILS AND BEATINGS WERE SUSPENDED.

SO THERE IS NOT NECESSARILY AN OVERSIGHT MECHANISM IN TERMS OF WHAT GOES ON IN THE BOSTON HARBOR ISLANDS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO THIS SORT OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION.

TORI: HOW DO WE KNOW HOW MANY GRAVES THERE ARE, AND WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT SPECIFIC PEOPLE AND THEIR STORIES IN THE FAMILY LINEAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THESE GRAVES?

JEAN-LUC: A COUPLE OF THINGS.

IN TERMS OF LIKE, WHAT IS ACTUALLY OUT ON LONG ISLAND, THERE IS DOCUMENTATION FROM THE STATE ARCHAEOLOGIST WHO SAID THAT THAT THERE WAS PROBABLY AN ESTIMATED 1000 GRAVES OUT ON LONG ISLAND DUE TO THIS CONCENTRATION CAMP.

I ALSO WANT TO, FOR THE PEOPLE VIEWING AT HOME, CALL ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT THIS IS A NATIONAL ISSUE.

ACROSS THE COUNTRY WE HAVE PLACES IN WHICH THERE ARE UNMARKED GRAVES OF THE ENSLAVED, OF NATIVE AMERICANS, OF CHILDREN THAT WERE LOST TO BOARDING SCHOOLS.

AND SO THERE IS A CONSTANT PUSH FROM BLACK AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN BROADER SOLIDARITY FOR PROTECTION OF THESE UNMARKED GRAVES.

TORI: IN LONG ISLAND SPECIFICALLY, NOW THE CITY IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE RESTORATION AND REBUILDING OF THIS ADDICTION TREATMENT FACILITY FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

BUT IT'’S HAD A LONG HISTORY OF -- WE SHOULD DISCUSS THIS -- A HOME FOR POOR MEN, AND FOR UNWED MOTHERS, AND IT WAS A SANITARIAN FOR A WHILE.

AND IT HAS THIS LONG HISTORY.

MANY OF THESE FACILITIES THEY ARE RESTRUCTURING NOW, WHEN THEY WERE BUILT, I IMAGINE THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO CONSIDERATION FOR THE SITES THEY WERE BUILT UPON.

SO, ARE THESE BUILDINGS BUILT ON MORE UNMARKED GRAVES?

JEAN-LUC: YES.

YES, THEY ARE.

THE ISSUE ITSELF, YOU ARE KIND OF ALLUDING TO WAVES OF HUMANITARIAN CRISIS THESE -- CRISES.

WE ARE TALKING NOW ABOUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

NEXT WEEK, NEXT THURSDAY THE 28TH AT 10:00 A.M. IS THE HEARING ON THE DOCKET OF THE ORDINANCE RELATED TO MASS AND CAST WHICH WAS SENT TO THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS COMMITTEE RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS DEFINITELY A NEED FOR RESIDENTS TO GO TO THE CITY COUNCIL TO PUSH FOR PROTECTION OF THE GRAVES.

BUT WE HAVE TO BALANCE THAT OUT WITH THE NEED TO MANAGE THIS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

WHICH, BY THE WAY, THERE IS NO QUESTION FROM THE AMERICAN INDIAN SIDE THAT THIS TYPE OF CRISIS DOES IMPACT US DISPROPORTIONATELY.

WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOMELESSNESS, THE OPIOID CRISIS, THERE ARE THINGS THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING AND THAT WE ARE DOING TO RESPOND TO IT AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL AT NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER OF BOSTON.

TORI: WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?

BECAUSE THE GOAL IS NOT NECESSARILY TO STOP, TO PREVENT THE CREATION OF THIS SITE WHICH WOULD HELP PEOPLE IN ANOTHER CRISIS.

BUT WHAT IDEALLY WOULD YOU LIKE TO GET OUT OF THIS?

J.: I THINK THE BIGGEST THING IS PROSPERITY.

THE REASON I AM SITTING HERE TODAY IS ERASURE.

WE KNOW WE CAN'’T STOP A $250-PLUS MILLION PROJECT.

HOWEVER, WE STILL WANT TO LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THERE SHOULD BE PROSPERITY AND RESPECT FOR OUR HISTORY, THE SUFFRAGE THAT WE ARE STILL GOING THROUGH, AND JUST BEING UNHEARD, UNSEEN, AND ERASED.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONCERNS IS THAT THE ISLAND IS MARKED AS AN OPPORTUNITY ZONE.

WE ARE NOT AGAINST REHABILITATION OF ANY HUMAN, WE'’RE NOT AGAINST ANY PROJECT LIKE THIS HAPPEN.

NOT ONLY HOME THEM, BUT REHABILITATE THEM.

HOWEVER, OUR HISTORIC, AND OUR EXPENSE, OUR HUMANITY, SHOULD NOT BE WHAT HAS TO BE SACRIFICED IN ORDER TO DO THIS.

OUR COMMUNITIES ARE AFFECTED THE MOST BY THE OPIOID CRISIS, ALCOHOLISM, MENTAL DISORDERS.

WE'’RE NOT AGAINST ANY OF IT.

JUST, AFTER HUNDREDS OF YEARS, WE WANT TO BE HEARD.

SO THAT IS WHY WE ARE FIGHTING.

NOT TO STOP IT, BUT FOR THE POSTERITY.

JUST FOR THE CITY TO RECOGNIZE IT IS A SACRED SITE, IT HAS BEEN DESECRATED, WILL BE DESECRATED AGAIN.

AND ALL WE REQUEST IS TO KNOW WHERE THOSE ANCESTORS ARE GOING TO GO, AND JUST BE REASSURED THAT WE'’RE NOT JUST BUILDING THROUGH A GRAVE OR TOSSING THEM INTO WHEREVER THEY FALL.

TORI: WE MENTIONED IN 2020, A TRIBE ASKED FOR AN ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW AND THEY WERE SOUPY -- THEY WERE REFUSED.

IN SUPERIOR COURT AND TOLD THEM THEY WERE TOO LATE TO BECOME INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

DO YOU FEEL THAT IS LEGITIMATE?

I MEAN, OBVIOUSLY NOT.

BUT YOU ARE COMING IN AT THIS STAGE IN THE PROCESS, DO YOU FEEL IT IS TOO LATE?

JEAN-LUC: THERE ARE MANY STEPS TO THAT PROCESS.

AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT EVEN DEEPER QUESTIONS WHICH THE CITY AND THE STATE WERE TRYING TO REACH IN TERMS OF ACCESS TO JUSTICE BY THE TRIBE.

EVEN QUESTIONING THE SOVEREIGNTY OF THE TRIBE ITSELF IN ORDER TO ADVANCE THE CITY'’S ARGUMENTS.

AND I WAS REVIEWING SOME MOTIONS FROM EARLIER THIS YEAR IN WHICH THE CITY WAS POINTING TO THIS EVER-GROWING CRISIS OF OPIOID ADDICTION AND THE DEATHS THAT WERE HAPPENING.

AND THE TRIBE IS SAYING, WELL, YOU CANNOT SAY THAT WE ARE BEING DILATORY US.

WE ARE NOT TRYING TO DELAY THIS.

WE UNDERSTAND THERE IS AN ISSUE.

DON'’T TRY AND PUT THE DEATHS ON THE LITIGATION AND THE NEED FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT.

IF YOU ARE REALLY WORRIED ABOUT THE IMPACT REPORT, THE TRIBE ARGUES, YOU WOULD HAVE DONE THAT FOUR YEARS AGO AND THAT PROCESS WOULD'’VE ALREADY BEEN DONE.

WE ARE REALLY ABOUT GETTING PAST THE CONCERNS THE TRIBE IS PUSHING FORWARD.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT IS THE PIECE MISSING.

TORI: WE ONLY HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS LEFT BUT I WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE SPIRITUALITY ASPECT OF THIS.

THESE ARE SOULS AR -- THAT ARE IN THESE UNMARKED GRAVES IN UNIDENTIFIED.

HOW DOES THAT FACTOR INTO YOUR IDENTITY AND ALL THIS?

J.: I LEAD A CIVIC ARTS COMMISSION CURRENTLY, AND SO THESE ARE TWO BATTLES I AM CURRENTLY FIGHTING.

TO PRESERVE THE HISTORICAL PATRIMONY OF THE LOCAL CARIBBEAN CARNIVAL, AND NOW I'’M ON BOARD THE NORTH AMERICAN INDIAN CENTER FOR THE SAME THING, ERASURE.

THAT IS WHAT WE ARE FIGHTING AGAINST.

THE CITY AND STATE NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE CONSTITUENCY AND THE THINGS THAT ARE SPIRITUAL FOR US.

THESE ARE ALL THINGS THAT ARE LIBERATION AND POWER FOR US.

THESE ARE THINGS WE CANNOT CONTROL, BUT THE PROSPERITY IS VERY MEANINGFUL TO US AND REPRESENTS OUR HERITAGE, OUR EXISTENCE, AND OUR CULTURE.

SO TO SEE IT DISAPPEAR LIKE THAT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

TORI: JEAN-LUC PIERITE AND J. CORREA, THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

JOIN US TOMORROW.

WE'’RE TALKING ABOUT THE INITIATIVE TO RE-EXAMINE BOSTON'’S SCHOOL BUSING PROGRAM.

PLUS, KATIE WILL TALK TO ONE OF THE STATE LAWMAKERS PUSHING FOR MORE OVERSIGHT OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL COMMISSION AFTER A SERIES OF SCANDALS WITHIN THE AGENCY.

THAT TOMORROW AT 7:00.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

GOOD NIGHT.

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