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Native Voices of the Land - June 7

WHAT: The Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust (PPLT) and Wainer Woods, in collaboration with the Sand Hill Band of Lenape & Cherokee, present "Native Voices of the Land," a fundraising and educational event bringing together Native peoples from across the Eastern seaboard with non-Native friends and allies to share perspectives on land stewardship, strategies for reclaiming ancestral lands, and cultural revitalization efforts. The event will feature the Eastern Medicine Singers, panel discussions with tribal leaders, and the world premiere of the documentary “Diligence” by Brooklyn Demme.


WHEN: Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 2:00 PM to 6:30 PM

WHERE: Weatherlow Farms, 845 Sodom Road, Westport, MA -


Admission: $15 in advance-recommended. $20 at the door. Seating limited to 150.


TICKETS:


SPONSORED BY: Westport Cultural Council Helen E. Ellis Charitable Trust, Westport River Watershed Alliance, and Gerald & Maureen Sheehan.


WHO:

  • Robert Cox/Chief 2 Running Elk - War Chief of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation, founder of Wainer Woods.

  • Carrie Jones - First woman tribal council member of the Sandhill Band of Lenape Indians and subject of the film "Diligence."

  • Brooklyn Demme - Filmmaker and community advocate, Director of "Diligence" and Founder of Truth 2 Power.

  • Chief Wunnanumwau Tom Frederick - Algonquin descendant, healthcare professional and Founder of OMC Faith and Peaceful Gathering Place, Inc.

  • Chief Daryl Jamieson/Chief Black Eagle - Vice Chairman of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe Pokanoket Nation and members of the Eastern Medicine Singers

·         Norris "Spotted War Turtle" Branham, Sand Hill Band of Lenape & Cherokee

  • Panel Moderator: Nikki Anderson.

  • Additional tribal members of the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe and Sand Hill Band of Lenape & Cherokee will be in attendance.


EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:

  • 1:45 pm- Eastern Medicine Singers drum circle featuring Pocasset Wampanoag tribal members

  • 2:30 pm - Panel of Tribal Leaders discussing Native land reclamation and stewardship strategies, moderated by

  • 4:00 pm - Film Premiere of "Diligence" by Brooklyn Demme and other short films addressing Native struggles. Q&A to follow.


Throughout the event there will be:

  • Native Seed Swap open to the public.

  • Information Tables from South Coast nonprofits including Westport's Wainer Woods, Westport River Watershed Alliance, PPLT, and Westport Historical Society.

  • Networking Opportunities between Native and non-Native communities.


WHY IT MATTERS: Indigenous communities across the Northeast are working to revitalize ecosystems by reclaiming stewardship of their ancestral lands, integrating traditional knowledge to foster biodiversity and sustainable practices. This event continues the South Coast's tradition of cultural connection with Native peoples, following successful prior events including the building of a Wetu at Round the Bend Farm and the burning of a Mishoon at the Westport Town Farm.

The event will showcase the ongoing work at Wainer Woods, a 50-acre farm off Drift Road being revitalized as a Native community center by Robert Cox/Chief Two Running Elk, a direct descendant of Paul Cuffe. A portion of proceeds from this event will be donated to the Wainer Woods restoration program under the PPLT umbrella and to the other indigenous groups.


COMMUNITY BENEFITS:

  • Building bridges between Native and non-Native peoples.

  • Educational opportunities about indigenous cultural lifeways.

  • Introduction to Wainer Woods and its revitalization efforts.

  • Strengthening South Coast cultural identity through connection with Native heritage.

  • Networking opportunities with tribal members from multiple nations.

  • Access to conservation and agricultural resources through PPLT.


BACKGROUND: Tribal Nations along the Eastern Seaboard were among the first to experience the impacts of colonialism, having lost hundreds of acres of lands through forced removal, broken treaties, and unjust policies. Indigenous land reclamation is an ongoing movement seeking to restore sustainable land management tied to Native lifeways. In 2024, the PPLT, in collaboration with the RI Department of Environmental Management, reclaimed a 40-acre parcel of ancestral tribal land in Tiverton, RI.


TICKETS:

 
 
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