SOWAMS ACTIVITY BLOG

Dr. Linford Fisher presents on Native American Slavery at Smith’s Castle

Associate Professor of History at Brown University Linford D. Fisher gave a one-hour talk about the rise and fall of Indian slavery in the Atlantic World at Smith’s Castle in North Kingston, RI. Fisher is leading a team of scholars in the creation of the Database of Indigenous Slavery in the Americans (DISA). In addition to creating […]

The Pokanoket Tribe at the George R Martin School in Seekonk, MA

Four fourth-grade classes at the George R. Martin Elementary School in Seekonk, MA, participated in a presentation by members of the Pokanoket Tribe sponsored by the Rhode Island Council for the Humanities. Click here for a 24-minute YouTube video of the presentation. Sagamore William Guy gave a history of the Tribe, including the Massasoit Osamequin, his son […]

The untold history of praying towns presented in Natick

Elizabeth Solomon of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag and Kristen Wyman of the Natick Nipmuc People appeared at the Morse Institute Library in Natick, MA, on May 30, 2019 for a conversation about the development of praying towns in 17th-century New England and how missionary work influenced national Indian policy and continues to perpetuate a myth of Indian extinction today. […]

Warren-Barrington Rotary learns about the Sowams Heritage Area Project

Members of the Warren-Barrington Rotary Club heard a presentation on the Sowams Heritage Area Project by Coordinator Dave Weed on May 28, 2019 at the Hometown Tavern where the group meets. Weed described how he became interested in learning about the local 17th century history of the area from Bristol to Providence and developed an […]

Ray and Dave meet with Jessica David at the RI Foundation

  Ray Two Hawks Watson (pictured with his children and a Roger Williams cutout), Pomham Sachem of the Mashapoag Tribe in Providence and Executive Director and Founder of the Providence Cultural Equity Initiative, and Dave Weed, Coordinator of the Sowams Heritage Area Project, met today with Jessica David, Executive Vice-President of Strategy & Community Investments […]

“Our” Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History Exhibit at Brown University

The “Our” Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History Exhibit, was displayed at the Stephen Roberts ’62 Campus Center on the Brown University campus  in Providence from April 15th to May 5th, 2019. The traveling exhibit tells the story of the Pilgrims who landed in Plymouth in 1620 in the Native voice. “It was designed to bring […]

18th Annual Spring Thaw Powwow at Brown University

Brown Class of 2016 graduate Niyo Moraza-Keeswood and Class of 2021 undergrad Keanu Hunter, above, worked with Native Americans at Brown (NAB) to organize day-long Spring Thaw Powwow at the Pizzitola Sports Complex at Brown University on April 20, 2019. It was facilitated with the help and support of Native Americans at Brown (NAB) and […]

The Pokanoket Tribe performs at the Bristol Library

A dozen members of the Pokanoket Tribe offered a one-hour presentation of tribal culture and history at the Rogers Free Library in Bristol, RI. Lee “Brave Heart” and Harry “Hawk” Edmonds performed some traditional dances and offered a tobacco prayer in their native Algonkian language at the beginning of the hour. Rainbow Heart and other […]

MeetUp group visits the 17th century in East Providence

Sowams Heritage Area Coordinator Dr. David Weed organized a session of the 17th Century Rhode Island MeetUp Group at three locations in East Providence, the site of the first colonial settlement in the area, on April 14, 2019. After learning the history of the Newman Church that was first organized in 1643 and constructed at […]

The Pokanoket Tribe visits the ENRICHri Home Schoolers Group

The Pokanoket Tribe was invited by the ENRICHri Home Schoolers Group to present their history and heritage to parents and children on April 12, 2019 at the Pawtucket Boys and Girls Club. Sagamore Po Wauipi Neimpaug (William Guy) told the children about the Tribe’s history and many of the Tribal leaders, including the Massasoit Osamequin […]