Honoring the Past • Healing the Present • Celebrating the Future

We want to acknowledge that we are standing on and benefiting from land that has been seized, expropriated, and stolen from Indigenous peoples. For thousands of years, this has been Pocumtuck land. This is still the homelands of the Pocumtuck, Norwottock, Woronoco, Agawam, Nipmuck, Abenaki. These Native peoples and their descendants are still living here among us. Every time we gather here we must acknowledge and respect that fact

REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xdN-P_tjSLKFb-Lb0yBIyQ

The Nolumbeka Project presents its final installment of the “River Stories 2020: Recovering Indigenous Voices of the Connecticut River Valley” series with a Zoom presentation called “Mashalisque and Frances Crowe – Women and Native Land History” with Ceremonial Stone Landscapes Preservationist Doug Harris and singer/activist/educator Sarah Pirtle, November 29 from 2 – 3:30  p.m. Registration information at www.facebook.com/nolumbekaproject and www.nolumbekaproject.org

The presentations will focus on Mashalisque (also spelled Mashalisk), a Pocumtuck sunksqua (sachem) who lived in the Pocumtuck Valley from approximately 1591 to 1676 and peace activist Frances Crowe (March 15, 1919 – August 27, 2019). Harris says, “They are heroic figures that should be acknowledged.” He noted that both women helped shape the character of the Valley. “Her (Mashalisque’s) spirit is still strong in the area.” He never met Frances Crowe but learned about her through his work identifying ceremonial sites at the proposed pipeline in Sandisfield and was impressed by Crowe’s conviction, participation and arrests.  Harris will also explore the institution of debt and that it was unknown here prior to colonization. He added that the Indigenous peoples of the valley are under-represented historically compared to the Eastern tribes.

Pirtle writes, “When we reach and picture these two women, we gain more depth and grit to take part in change. Women were the guardians who held communities together. When we see Mashalisque, we can feel her power. We need to see her.” Pirtle senses that Frances Crowe’s radiant life of commitment to social justice might give a feeling for what it was like to live at the same time as Mashalisque. Her life was changed by meeting Frances in 1978, and she protested the Euro-missiles with her in 1983. Sarah learned about Mashalisque forty years ago. Recently she has been informed by reading the works of Dr. Lisa Brooks, Dr. Marge Bruchac and Nolumbeka Project researcher Howard Clark.  She’ll be sharing a song she wrote about Mashalisque with this chorus, “The wind says your legacy must never cease.” Sarah works with young people this year leading “A Long Line of Women Leaders for Racial Justice.” She is honored to have the opportunity to participate with Doug Harris.

This event is co-sponsored by the Nolumbeka Project, The Babson 2020 Fund of the Peace Development Fund, Greenfield Savings Bank, Northeast Solar and River Valley Coop.

Link to Deborah Spears Moorehead & Annawon Weeden,

A Wampanoag Perspective 400 Years After the Mayflower

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=At9SAsGdWC0

Link to YouTube of 400 Years: Truth & Healing for the Next Seven Generations:

Here is the link. https://youtu.be/K07l7PpZizg

Thanks to the wonderful presenters and special guest Miguel Garate.

An article about the launch of the mishoon: https://www.recorder.com/nolumbeka-boat-launch-35514141?fbclid=IwAR3MZ_DNNlb9NDU6FD-NblTY6a8ot4I0jscyX825GILwisEuWyKu3ZdeZ1k

Photos of the paddle from Melissa Vanek of the co-sponsor Connecticut River Conservancy: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1rIgCLEmqlUtkbgk55OkW35TXiXTMhp6W?fbclid=IwAR3FyYHoTP_TDGA_ZM99a3msgidbzlZtgLsDtmT9ZV6HltULNmro2zuqRUg

Past Virtual Events:

LIVE FROM MINNEAPOLIS, JUNE 28, TALL PAUL, ANISHANAABE AND ONEIDA HIP-HOP ARTIST

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xkLsmf6AKw

We have a wonderful and powerful collection to share with beautiful and thoughtful compositions that were submitted by friends to commemorate the 344th anniversary of the May 19, 1676 Great Falls Massacre. Here is a link to the compilation. Thanks so much for the thoughtful submissions. Here is the link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IAgVb26b26hCrLmkFg8jEpPTWEoBqSdL/view
The Water Water Song by Bear Fox sung in Kanienke:ha by Lily-Rakia near the Great Falls 
https://www.facebook.com/578154759/posts/10157985408739760/?d=n

Nisnol Siboal/Two Rivers: Celebrating the Waters of Ndakinna (Our Land), link to the April 4 webcast with Joseph and Jesse Bruchac. Sponsored by Mascoma Bank, Peace Development Fund, Great River Hydro, and the Brattleboro Coop. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5kwGArXGk8

Social & Stomp Dance with Annawan Weeden and James Moreis, February 1, Greenfield Community College, sponsored by Greenfield Community College, Greenfield Savings Bank, the Babson 2020 Fund of the Peace Development Fund, and the Greenfield and Shelburne Local Cultural Councils.