By Joan Tavares Avant (Granny Squannit) & Ann Foxx
At long last, Native voices of Southeastern Massachusetts are now “licensed” within the 690 pages of the recently published book (2014), Dawnland Voices: An Anthology of Indigenous Writings From New England by Dr. Siobhan Senier, University of New Hampshire. This anthology includes the Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamquoddy, Penobscot, Abenaki, Nipmuc, Narragansett, Mohegan, Schaghticoke and the Mashpee and Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribes. On November 1, 2014, there was an honoring dinner held at the University of New Hampshire for the authors who briefly read one or two pieces from his or her tribal nation. The spoken words empowered the audience with humor, grace and reinforced Native American healing by listening to the cultural oral narratives. I believe in the theory “what goes around comes around”, even as generations have passed by, in spite of our many ocean waves of obstacles-- here we are in the literary breadth of our native voice today for all to learn we never left Turtle Island.
We have been compromised by non-native people who did not want to accept our traditional teachings or the wisdom of our ancestors or what our Native Nations had to share. Too many superintendents, teachers, and scholars would say that they could not find Native American narratives or documented sources of Native Voices, while we have been here all along for generations telling our stories in our communities and classrooms for those who wanted to listen. Clearly, it was to remove and transform tribal community identity, best termed as ‘colonializing’, trying to put us out of existence. ”Not Gonna Happen.”
As well, it was such an honor and privilege to be among our tribal brothers and sisters celebrating their literary talents. The stories were amazing and many of them had similar cultural ties to each other. I am so pleased that Dr. Siobhan Senier and the University of Nebraska Press took on the challenge and made our Native Voices known on the Eastern Seaboard and I hope to see many more stories from our tribal sisters and brothers from this region. Further, our hosts at the UNH-Durham campus treated all of us with total respect and honor which made the experience more enriching. Thanks to Jessica Fish and her crew for all the assistance and attention.
Wampanoag Section:
- Introduction by Joan Tavares Avant (Granny Squannit) Mashpee Wampanoag
- Early Texts in Massachusett-Petition from Gay Head Sachem Mittark, 1681, Petition from Gay Head to Commissioners of New England Company.
- Alfred DeGrasse, Mashpee Wampanoag (1890-1978) About Poison Ivory, The Legend of the Red Eagle.
- Mabel Avant, Mashpee Wampanoag (1892-1964) Interview-The Voice of Our Forsaken Church .
- Helen Manning, Aqunnah Wampanoag ( 1919-2008), From Moshup’s Footsteps
- Frank James ,Wamsutta, Aquinnah Wampanoag (1923-2001) National Day of Mourning
- Helen Attaquin, Aquinnah Wampanoag (1923-1993) How Martha’s Vineyard Came to Be & From “There are Differences”.
- Russell Peters (Fast Turtle) Mashpee Wampanoag, (1929-2002) From the Wampanoags of Mashpee
- Anne Foxx, Mashpee Wampanoag (b. 1950) Historical Continuities in Indigenous Women’s Political Activism: An Interview with Joan Tavares Avant.
- Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag Holistic History: Including an exhibit at Plimoth Plantation.
- Paula Peters, Mashpee Wampanoag, Wampanoag Reflections Beware: Not All Terms Are Terms Are Fair Game.
- Robert Peters, Mashpee Wampanoag (b.1962) Grandfather & Red Sun Rising
- Mwalim *) Morgan James Peters, Mashpee Wampanoag From a Mixed Medicine Bag
Not all stories are told in this collection, simply because all Native nations have lots of stories to tell yet.
Dawnland Voices: An Anthology of Indigenous Writings From New England, can be found on Amazon.com in paper back and kindle.
