Lighting the Fire at the Eastern Woodlands Homesite

July 10, 2022

LIGHTING THE FIRE AT THE EASTERN WOODLANDS HOMESITE

Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. at the Eastern Woodlands Homesite

In an article featured on jacobspillow.org, Nipmuc citizens Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. and Nazario TallHairRedDeer Garate have constructed a homesite in Douglas State Forest to bring together Eastern Woodlands peoples and the public. Crafted from cedar trees, the structures highlight urgent issues of access, health, and the sustainability of cedar swamps. The centerpiece, a hearth, witnessed Gaines leading the burning of a miniature mishoon over three days in May 2022. The homesite features various traditional elements such as a fishnet station, cookstations, and a deer hide rack. Gaines emphasizes the importance of cultural revitalization and preservation through such initiatives, inviting the public to witness interactive talks, traditional hand games, meal preparation, and old social songs on July 10. Gaines is currently an artist in residence at the Ohketeau Cultural Center in Ashfield, MA.

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Mishoon canoe burning at sunset in Wesport, MA

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Melissa (Harding) Ferretti, Golden Dragonfly, standing next to the burning mishoon canoe.

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3 indigenous Nipmuc men wearing traditional clothing

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Trees being harvested by members of the Nimpuc Nation

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Annawon Weeden (right) and Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines talking.

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Crossroads change in rural America

Deepening the Power of Place: The Confluence of Traditional Eastern Woodlands Social Songs and Modern Spoken Word Poetry

February 1, 2023
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.
No Loose Braids Hide Workshop information flyer

Hide Workshop

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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.
Full moon gathering and eastern woodlands social dance flier

Full Snow Moon Gathering and Eastern Woodlands Social Dance

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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.
No Loose Braids' Drum Workshop flyer

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