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Our Native Americans of Southeastern Massachusetts program introduces the people who were first here in New England
and who still live here today. Sometimes with all the hustle bustle of life we forget that the land that we live on today
originally was inhabited by Native people. We see traces of Massachusetts Native past everyday, yet we often do not recognize
it. Place names such as Massachusetts, Acushnet, Mount Hope, Shawmet and dozens of names of lakes, ponds and rivers remind
us of the Wampanoag, the people of the east, who first lived here. Many people also do not realize that these people are still
here today.
We will discuss the Native history and names within your town, the seasonal cycle of a typical 17th century
Native family- what they ate, what their jobs were and what they did for fun as well as who the people were that were living
here when the Pilgrims landed. Through the use of sandbox or paper bag digs children are also introduced to archaeology and
how it can be used to help everyone learn about the Native past. Participants will handle authentic and reproduction Native
artifacts such as arrowheads, arrows, atl-atls, pottery and toys. In our two-hour program, children make their own copies
of Native pots, learn words in the Wampanoag language and as well as how to make arrowheads out of stone. The program concludes
with a discussion of the Native people who are still in Southeastern Massachusetts today.
Participants are given handouts to take with them including instructions on how to plant a traditional garden, lists of
Native place names from their town and sources for more information on New Englands Native peoples.
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