Please help us welcome Sassamin Weeden, Mashpee Wampanoag, to the Education Department as our new Administrative Assistant. Sassamin, granddaughter of Narragansett-Pequot tribal historian Tall Oak Weeden, brings her visual storytelling, communications, and tribal knowledge to her community working in a role to fulfill the mission of aiding and advocating for our native students. Through her many experiences, she comes to this position with cultural and historical understanding with an ability to promote and reach those who are eager to learn.

Sassamin will be assisting Talia Landry under the ARP-AIRE Grant. Talia has moved from her communication positions within the education department to the grant manager of the new direct services grant geared towards students K-12. The grant project is seeking to utilize academic and cultural programming to enhance student’s success in continuing their education. This 4 pronged approach will focus on culturally based STEM projects, Afterschool Academic instructional support, culturally based advanced opportunities, and College, career and workforce planning. Some of the intended programming includes, ribbon skirt making, traditional home site construction, whaling education, college visits, paid internships, academic tutoring, and more.

Sassamin will be helping promote and organize several opportunities available through the education department, she will work to ensure you are getting all the information needed for assistance to enhance our community to a brighter future one student at a time.

Please feel free to reach out to her with any useful publications, advertisements, or opportunities geared towards our native students, parents, and/or faculty. As well as any questions regarding education, cultural training, or internship requests and she’ll be sure to get you connected to the right people.

We are excited to have Sassamin as part of our team! You can contact her at Sassamin.weeden@mwtribe-nsn.gov or 508-477-0208 ext 163 and ARP-AIRE Grants manager Talia Landry at talia.landry@mwtribe-nsn.gov or 508-477-0208 Ext 166.