December 2021 Mittark
Representing in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade: Wampanoag Singers and Dancers Provide a Blessing and Land Acknowledgement
Millions of viewers who tuned in to watch the 2021 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade were treated with a blessing by Mashpee Wampanoag tribal elders Carolyn Wynne (Otter Clan) and Siobhan Brown, who acknowledged the Lenape territory of Manahatta.
The blessing, which was written by members of the Wampanoag Language Reclamation Project aired exclusively in the Wampanoag language, but translates in English to the following: “Creator and Ancestors, we honor you for all things. We honor the Lenape people of Manahatta and all our relations. Now we are here; and will always be here. And so it is.”
Portions of the performance were spoken in Wôpanâôt8âôk.
Positioned behind the two elders for television cameras were Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers who gifted viewer with a performance of the Calumet song, which connects the four directions and honors all relations.
Among the singers and dancers were 2021 Wampanoag Princess Dasia Peters, Cheenulka Pocknett, David Pocknett, Gertrude “Kitty” Hendricks-Miller, Hartman Deetz, John Peters and Talia Landry.
The musical arrangement was by Ty Defoe (Oneida/Ojibwe).
This year’s appearance was the second year of collaboration between Indigenous Direction and the creative team behind the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
The Wampanoag Tribe, also known as The People of the First Light, have inhabited the Eastern coast of present-day Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years. In the centuries following first contact with colonizing settlers, forced assimilation silenced the Wampanoag language for over 150 years. However, through historical written documents by Wampanoag people, language and culture are again thriving today on this Indigenous land.
Indigenous Direction co-founders Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Lakota) and Ty Defoe (Oneida and Ojibwe) work hard to provide culturally appropriate music and dances that have been part of this continent for centuries. Rounding out the team, Associate Consultant for Indigenous Direction and Project Manager: Jamelyn Ebelacker (Santa Clara Pueblo), and Community Liaison, Siobhan Brown (Wampanoag).
Over the past few weeks, many tribal members, including myself, spoke with dozens of reporters from around the world. We shared a history that included a series of empty treaties that have failed our people. I believe that through an honest conversation in public, we will make progress for our people.
The media coverage reminded the world that action to protect our land must be taken today.
We reminded our friends in DC that the Thanksgiving holiday is rooted in a history that attempted to extinguish our culture and broken promises that have inflicted damage on our Tribal Nation.
Past generations of Wampanoag men and women were forced to carry this fight alone. Today, we are thankful to have fierce advocates in Washington that recognize the immediate need to secure our tribal lands - land required to begin the process of healing the damage inflicted over the past 400 years. Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Ed Markey, and Congressman Bill Keating continue to be warriors for our people here in the Commonwealth and Washington DC. There is comfort in knowing that we may continue to count on them to fight by our side until our right to our reservation lands is fully confirmed.
There's also a tremendous amount of comfort in President Biden and Secretary Deb Haaland that have reminded us on several occasions that they will continue to stand with Mashpee.
A few days ago, I received a letter from President Biden that reinforced his administration's support of our Tribe. The letter came on the heels of President Biden's trip to Wampanoag land, where spent Thanksgiving with his family.
In the letter, the President stated without question his gratitude for our contributions to this Nation. "As President, my Administration is committed to working in partnership with you to honor Tribal sovereignty and strengthen our government-to-government relationship."
Tribal Youth and Families Enjoy Skate Night
Tribal children and their families enjoyed an evening of roller skating and Halloween last month at the Forest Family Fun Center in Taunton. The Halloween Roller Skate Night was organized by Tribal Council Vice Chairman Carlton Hendricks and was sponsored by several tribal businesses that included B&M Trucking, Joey's Septic Service, Miranda's Excavating, L & M Enterprises, Red Hawk Racing, Canal Used Tires and Hendricks Enterprises.
The inspiration for the event came from the Friday night roller skate parties that Annika Alvarez organized through the summer at the Mashpee Pond.
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