The Education Department has been up to all good things in 2024. The ARP-AIRE Grant recently started its After School Programs, Tribal Boys and Daughters of Tradition, in the Quashnet Elementary School. Tribal Boys is a “Cultural Enrichment” after school program that aims to serve boys from grades 3 – 6. The program highlights cultural values such as self-respect, respect for others, honor, protocols for ceremony; visiting with elders, fishing, and cultural field trips. It is led by cultural outreach coordinator, Darius Coombs who is assisted by 11th grade student, Isaiah Peters. There are 9 tribal boys who currently participate. The boys have been meeting twice a week beginning in February, and they will continue to meet through May.
Daughters of Tradition is a program for tribal girls in grades 3-6 and is a component of the White Bison curriculum that incorporates traditional values that empower our young women to develop into healthy teens. This program is facilitated by Talia Landry and new Wampanoag teacher/citizen Jannel Carey. Our young women are learning about self-respect, how culture can guide their life, creating safe spaces with each other; and personal problem-solving through engaging with Elders, peers, and community members. As native people we must learn to live in two worlds and this program will help our girls navigate the two.
Lunch Bunches at the Quashnet,- KC Coombs, and Mashpee Middle High School have also been a big hit over the last couple of years and are continuing strong with the Education Department. Through this program, tribal students in grades Pre-K - 12 are provided a safe space to enjoy their lunch together with a community culture keeper. We share stories, get to know each other’s family and talk about our weeks. We conduct cultural crafting with the students, show traditional videos and just let of steam. The lunches are very helpful for the students to build their self-confidence and comfort in the public school system. As we have seen through history, the presence of our own within the school system helps students have a more successful academic journey.
The department recently implemented lunch bunches at the Morse Pond School, The Lawrence School, and the Falmouth High School. Our outreach to Native students is increasing and becoming more effective. Check out our calendar on our website to see the dates we are in each school for Lunch Bunch. We are also always looking for community members to contract with us and participate in this program to spend time with our youth. Hours are dependent on your availability. Please reach out to Talia Landry if you are interested; talia.landry@mwtribe-nsn.gov.
The Indian Education Grant recently held “Pup8n Winter Camp” during winter vacation for tribal youth ages 5-9. The week was spent learning about whales, cooking lessons from Ms. Kitty, and visits to the National Seashore and Waquoit Bay Estuary. Our extra fun days were had at the Cape Cod Children’s Museum and Nova Trampoline Park in Plymouth. A few camp highlights include the special visit from Delilah the Whale where the kids got a chance to explore the inside of an inflatable life size whale; and of course, the trampoline park!
The Education department will have more programming and family events coming up in April so keep an eye out and we’ll see you around! Make sure to sign up for the Tribal Girls Basketball camp for grades 4-8 for ALL Wampanoag girls. Transportation, breakfast and lunch is provided. Annual Herring Day will be held on April 17th!
