Celebrating Native American Culture and Voices in Marlborough

On May 2023, the collaborative effort of Westport River Watershed Alliance, Westport Land Conservation Trust, and Wampanoag Experience resulted in the 24/7 burning of a traditional Native American canoe, overseen by tribal members. The event, from May 13th to June 24th, provided a unique insight into Native American traditions and culminated in the River Day festival on June 24th.

The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe embarked on a significant cultural endeavor by crafting a canoe from a white pine trunk in a traditional mishoon burn.

Town officials in Natick met with members of the Nipmuc Nation to address an incident where Nipmuc individuals harvesting trees were confronted by the police due to a lack of awareness about their agreement with the Conservation Commission.

Annawon Weeden and Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines recently led a traditional Wampanoag mishoon (canoe) construction as artists-in-residence at the Westport Town Farm

Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., and his nephews, Daishuan Reddeer Garate and Miguel Wandering Turtle Garate, present an original spoken word program offering a Nipmuc Tribal perspective on place. This program will explore the common themes that connect ten-thousand-year-old traditional Indigenous social songs with modern day spoken word poetry. hey will share stories about their ongoing relationships to the land, the persistence and resilience of the Northeastern tribes, differing world views, and ways they are able to maintain balance at the intersection between the traditional lifestyle and values they inherited through their ancestors and functioning respectfully in today’s complicated world.

This workshop is intended to educate non-Indigenous people on the importance of supporting and centering Indigenous sovereignty, promote Indigenous cultural reclamation and preservation, and offer a comprehensive introduction to the relationship between food, animals, and garments.

A rare opportunity to learn and participate in traditional Eastern Woodlands Native social dances, led by Nipmuc tribal members Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., and his nephews Daishuan Reddeer Garate and Miguel Wandering Turtle Garate.

A drum making workshop led by Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr. and hosted by Ohketeau Cultural Center. For more information and to RSVP email info@ohketeau.org. Space is limited