CT celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day brings education, respect for native cultures
For Nowashe Village Executive Director Carolyn Venne the reason for a celebration on Indigenous Peoples Day is readily seen: it’s to help people appreciate the connection to Native American heritage.
“We’re not trying to take a stand against Columbus Day or trying to take anything away from it,” Venne said. “But it’s important that because some people are using this day to celebrate Indigenous Heritage, that’s what we want to do.”
“It’s an immersive way so that people can experience the culture, taste the food, meet people, and learn something about themselves and life today. We also celebrate Native American month in November,” she said.
Residents and others came out to the second annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration held Monday by the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum.
One of the highlights of the celebration included the popular Wingmasters program, during which Julie Collier showcased six birds of prey, due to the Native Americans reverence for their regal looks and hunting skills, along with wearing their feathers as part of an ancient tradition, according to the Nowashe Village website.
The website noted Collier pairs the birds of prey with crafts, such as shields, jewelry, and clothing to showcase the ways Native Americans expressed their vast cultures. The birds that Collier showcased for the celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day were the Great Horned Owl, Screech Owl, Red-Tailed Hawk, Barn Owl, Male American Kestrel, and the Peregrine Falcon.
She said the importance of holding the program year-round, but specifically on Indigenous Peoples Day. is to make sure people understand the importance of the birds and respecting cultural artifacts of Native Americans, such as the shields and headdresses.
“You find people wanting to touch [them], wanting to put on as though these were Halloween costumes. And they’re not, I feel really strongly about them,” Collier said. “You may feel that I’m too serious [in] telling people not to do that. But I feel I’m the protector of these things. And if people grasp that these are not Halloween costumes, a little bit, I’ve done my job.”
“The same is true of these birds. People want to touch them, they want to have their picture taken with them. Not going to happen. And if I come across as nasty, it’s because I’m the guardian of these things. And I feel really strongly about that. Maybe people will get the message,” she said.
Other highlights included food prepared by Indigenous Chef Sherry Pocknett (Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Cape Cod, Mass.), of Sly Fox Den and Sly Fox Den Too Charlestown, along with the renowned Horse Hill Singers. Sponsored by Connecticut Humanities, The Horse Hill Singers performed two traditional Native American Dances coupled with intertribal singing, ending with The Round Dance where all attendants were invited to participate as a community.
Venne said that the Nowashe Village museum has been educating about Native American Heritage for many years with the goal of helping people to understand the history of the area, and connecting the past to the present.
“What we’re doing here, we don’t just sit back in time. People are not in costume, if you will. We want people to understand the history of the area, but also to connect the past to the present. To remember that indigenous people are still here today, so much of their language and life ways have impacted our lives today, in ways that people don’t even realize,” she said. “And we talk about modern challenges [they are] facing … by inviting Indigenous educators here, or chefs or drummers … always paying people for their time.”
She said she also is proud that more that 25 percent of the expenses related to the construction and planning of Nowashe Village were all paid by native people or Tribal Nations.
“So our structures were built by Native people, and even the cedar poles and the structures were sourced from the Narragansett reservation. And most of our artifacts and education pieces were made or sourced by Native people. So that’s really important to us. We’re telling their stories …” she said.
Venne said that in one hour the celebration exceeded the number of people who attended the event last year, which she was excited about.
“I think people are looking for something to do to celebrate this. You know, possibly not everyone is here because it’s Indigenous Peoples day. But then all the more reason, if we can give people a reason to be outdoors and appreciate the connection of Native Heritage,” she said.
Director Liz Glaviano said that it is important to have Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations to look at history in its totality.
“We’re not taking anything away from Christopher Columbus, he will be in the history books forever. We want to learn … and highlight the Indigenous Peoples who flourished here for thousands of years. I feel very, very honored, [and] very grateful to have the opportunity to showcase Indigenous food, Indigenous arts, and really highlight how fabulous the Indigenous cultures are and continue to be, in this region and throughout the Americas,” she said.
