“Black and Red” Documentary to Premiere at Nichols College

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The Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities-supported documentary project, “Black and Red: the Dilemma of African American-Indigenous Identity in Massachusetts,” will premiere at Nichols College in Dudley, MA on Tuesday, October 15. The educational event will host high school and college students and include a showing of the film, a performance by the traditional drumming group, Eastern Medicine Singers, an exhibit by Pocasset artist Cynthia Meeks, and a panel discussion.

The documentary, with matching support from the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT), is part of the Expand Massachusetts Stories Initiative of the Massachusetts Foundation, and one of forty-two cultural projects chosen for 2024. The film includes a series of compelling interviews by tribal members about their perspectives as multiracial individuals in Massachusetts and their experiences being misidentified in their own communities. History tells us that a special Indian Census in Massachusetts included mixed blood families for the first time in 1910, and that the census taker made the calculation himself from the possible Indian, White and Negro categories.

With an effort spearheaded by Professor Bryant Richards, Nichols College has provided funding to host the premiere. For more information, please email Chris Richards, Director of Development and Programming Director at the Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust.

Ocean Hour Farm Awards Grant to PPLT for Indigenous Food Sovereignty Program

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Ocean Hour Farm in Newport, RI has chosen Indigenous Roots Forever Food Sovereignty Program as an awardee in support of its traditional gardening practices and transition mentoring goals in Rhode Island and Connecticut. The grant will ensure regenerative farming skill development among tribal participants by training them to grow their own produce for five months of the year and build more economic self-sufficiency among families.

Ocean Hour Farm is a center for education, scientific research and regenerative farming practices, with emphasis on the connection between land and ocean; the grant program funds efforts to fill knowledge and infrastructure gaps to accelerate and support an inclusive transition to regenerative and traditional land management in our local food-and-fiber shed.

Narragansett Clan Chief Musquant Nompashim Netas (Rocky Johnson) will continue to provide leadership on the project, mentoring his son and tribal member, Bow Johnson. Bow will now be able to assist and carry on the legacy of their tribal roots, with a spirit of cooperation and community.

First Big Drum Pow Wow Since Pandemic Creates Unity

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The first Big Drum Pow Wow since COVID-19 was held on Saturday, August 3rd at River Island Park, Woonsocket, RI, uniting tribal members of all generations, other tribal nations, and non-Native community members. Funding was provided by the Rhode Island Foundation.

Several hundred individuals enjoyed food, native arts, crafts, dancing and storytelling, hosted by Ambassador Chief Daryl Black Eagle Jamieson and Board Member John Graham. Nations represented included Pequot and Eastern Pequot, Narragansett, Nipmuc, Wabanaki, Taino and Indigenous tribal members from Central America. Founded in 1916, the Rhode Island Foundation is the state’s largest funder of Rhode Island non-profits; its community grants program supports what it calls “unique” and “important” events.

“It was good to hear the big drum again and to see all the generations represented,” says Chief Sequan Pijaki, Chairman of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation, and founder of PPLT. We are grateful for the support of the RI Foundation, and for the attendance by our other funders at this opportunity for us to gather in person once again.”

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