Indigenous Voices
FROM the Connecticut River Valley OF MASSACHUSETTS
A 10-Part Series of Short Videos
About Native Life Past and Present
Produced by
the Nolumbeka Project
and Jennifer Lee (Northern Narragansett)
in collaboration with Turning Tide Films
Directed by Robbie Leppzer
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“The Nolumbeka Project provides an invaluable resource with this effort. The region at large is long overdue to realize this information. There is so much to learn about what has been missing from U.S. history, and why we have been misinformed for so long.“
—Ron Welburn (Accomac Cherokee/Lenape Descendant),
Emeritus Professor, UMass Amherst
About the Filmmakers
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For entire series)
PDF links for individual videos are included with descriptions below.
INDIGENOUS VOICES Introduction
Running Time: 4:45
In this Introduction to our multi-part video series, INDIGENOUS VOICES, narrator David Brule (Nehantic), presents a brief overview of the Indigenous peoples who have lived in and traveled through the Connecticut River Valley of western Massachusetts for thousands of years.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
“Historical Perspectives From The Wigwam”
Jennifer Lee – Northern Narragansett Educator and Bark Basket Maker
Running Time: 17:54
A brief historical overview about Indigenous life before the European settlers arrived, and a comparison of differing world views between the Indigenous and European cultures, visually illustrated with historical paintings and drawings.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
DAY OF REMEMBRANCE
Running Time: 11:29
Native and non-native people gather together to honor and remember those who died in the 1676 massacre at Peskeompskut, now known as Turners Falls.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
Liz ColdWind Santana Kiser – Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck
Elder and Educator
Running Time: 7:23
A Nipmuck Elder talks about her family, culture, battles against racism, and the importance of everyone learning Indigenous history.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
Tom Porter – Mohawk Bear Clan Spiritual Elder
Running Time: 7:03
Hear an Indigenous spiritual Elder’s viewpoint about how to overcome despair and hopelessness in our fight for planetary survival in the face of climate change.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
Wes Pecor – Massachusett Tribal Descendant Wood Carver
Running Time: 7:12
Expressions of imagination, culture and nature in the hand-carving of wood from the heart.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
Monica Alexander – Mi’kmaq Descendant Multimedia Artisan
Running Time: 10:26
Porcupine quillwork on birch bark — historic and contemporary interpretations of this Northeastern Indigenous art form.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. – Nipmuc Cultural Steward
Running Time: 5:36
A Nipmuc cultural steward teaches the ancient art of tanning hides to youth.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
Kingfisher Singers and Dancers – Wampanoag-Narragansett Cultural Educators
Running Time: 9:40
A Native family teaches culture and tradition through songs.
Download PDF: Resources for Teachers and Lifelong Learners (For this video only)
INDIGENOUS VOICES Film Credits
Running Time: 4:34
Our full credits for our INDIGENOUS VOICES multi-part series, set to Keith Secola’s (Anishinaabe) evocative, electric Native-fusion song, “4 R Ancestors”, over stunningly beautiful aerial footage of the Connecticut River.
This program is supported in part by grants from the Local Cultural Councils of 50 towns in western Massachusetts, which are supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency. Participating towns include Agawam, Amherst, Ashfield, Bernardston, Brimfield, Buckland, Charlemont-Hawley, Chester, Chesterfield, Chicopee, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Erving, Gill, Goshen, Greenfield, Hampden, Hatfield, Heath, Holland, Holyoke, Leyden, Longmeadow, Ludlow, Montague, Montgomery, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Palmer, Plainfield, Rowe, Russell, Shelburne, Shutesbury, South Hadley, Southwick, Springfield, Sunderland, Tolland,
West Springfield, Warwick, Wendell, Westfield, Westhampton, Whately,
Williamsburg, and Worthington.
Additional Funding Support Provided By:
• Irene and George Davis Foundation
• Mass Humanities
• River Valley Co-op
Nolumbeka Project 