Native Voices: New England Tribal Families

Saturday, January 19 - Sunday, May 12, 2019

Native Voices: New England Tribal Families introduces families to five Native American communities in New England as they work to balance cultural traditions with life in a modern world. Members of the Narragansett of Rhode Island, the Aquinnah Wampanoag and Mashpee Wampanoag of Massachusetts, and the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy of Maine take visitors beyond traditional tales where you will experience their traditions through a series of environments and activities in each of the four New England seasons:

Pow Wow - Experience the sights and sounds of Pow Wow through traditional music and dance, explore an RV belonging to the Barnaby Family, and investigate the materials and styles of four Native American artists.

Spring - Meet Narragansett teens as they explore the Nuweetooun tribal school, search for animal species in a vernal pool, and try basket weaving and stamping activities.

Summer - Practice beading in a Mashpee Wampanoag artist's studio and assemble a clambake.

Fall - Explore pinch pots from the Gayhead cliffs of Martha's vineyard, walk on a "bog" and investigate a living bog plant, and hear about Aquinnah teens' favorite aspects of Cranberry Day, a traditional Aquinnah holiday.

Winter - Toboggan down a wintery hill in Maine with Kaia, a young Penobscot, try your hand at animal tracking, cook a native Passamaquoddy dish in Grandma's Kitchen, or compete at snowsnake, a traditional native game.

Don’t miss our Native Voices Event Days! We are excited to offer Museum visitors opportunities to interact with and understand indigenous groups. Our Native Voices Event Days will highlight different Native American artists or “tradition bearers” that will demonstrate their traditions through different cultural art forms. Our Native Voices Event Days will take place on the following dates:

Saturday, Feb. 23 from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 16 from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday, March 23 from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday, April 13 from noon to 4 p.m.
Saturday, May 4 from noon to 4 p.m.

The Museum is also hosting Artists in Residence from noon to 5 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays on the following dates:

Chickasaw duck decoys with Lakosh (Joshua Hinson), Chickasaw Nation, March 18-24
Creek basketry and weaving with Mary Smith, Muscogee (Creek) Nation of Oklahoma, March 25-31
Choctaw beadwork with Sally Wells, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, April 22-28
Cherokee woodcarving and basketry with Louise and Butch Goings, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, April 29-May 5