The Mashpee community celebrated the opening of a traditional exhibit in the Quashnet School courtyard called “13 Moons” in May. The exhibit featuring a wetu, a garden, and educational panels was the culmination of two years of work by students at the school and staff of the tribe’s education department under the direction of Cultural and Outreach Coordinator Darius Coombs.

“It’s to teach all kids. We are all from this community and we want to share our Wampanoag culture,” Darius said. “We want everyone to feel comfortable where they are at.”

About 50 people attended the opening of the exhibit that was constructed over the last two years with the help of about 40 tribal children in grades three to six.

The 10 -by – 10-foot wetu is made from cedar poles and covered with poplar bark on the outside. The inside walls are lined with bulrush mats and there is seating covered with whitetail deer skins.

There are also educational stations throughout the exhibit that feature historic and contemporary Wampanoag lifeways including games, cooking, fishing, and how to tan animal hides. The garden is planted with corn, beans, and squash.

Clan mother Marlene Lopez was on hand to celebrate the opening and said, “It’s nice to see something like this that can carry forth our heritage and shows the heart of community.”

The project was funded through the America Rescue Plan’s American Indian Resilience in Education Grant. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was one of 15 tribes awarded funds to support tribal education agencies.