As The Wetu Turns

-Why “Playing Indian” is harmful-

Occasionally we get children dressing up in “Indian costumes” down here at Plimoth Plantation. They wear the paper bag vest, and the feather headdress of pink and blue feathers. They wear the fake leather outfits available at most costume shops. Maybe they even make them in school. Now you may be shocked that someone would do such a thing in this day and age. It happens.

This is one of the most difficult ignorances to deal with. This is something that is fostered by the adults who influence this child. The children are following the lead of the adults in their life.

To deal with this situation requires a very deft hand. First of all the child must be made aware that this is inappropriate behavior, and should remove the costume.

This may provoke a response from the adult along the lines of “But she loves Indians”, or even better “she loves pocahontas”. Now the adult must be made aware of the inappropriateness of the action. This can often be more difficult, and can result in some very reactionary responses. The adults, if only at a subconcious level, realize that this is an attack on their own understanding of the world, and their (mis)perception of Native people.

The reason why this is a harmful practice is because these expressions of Native culture are at the most superficial level. They do not tie into, in any meaningful way, the importance of our clothing to our identities.

When we put on our traditional clothing in this modern age, it is almost always for some very specific purpose. Those of us who work on the homesite, and are able to wear traditional outfits on a regular basis, wear the clothing with pride and a recognition of how blessed we are to be able to do this. Not too long ago we would have been lynched or at least harrassed or arrested for doing so. This is not a game for us.

When we go to Powwow, and put on our regalia, the very word we use to talk about these outfits carries a greater weight than mere articles of cloth and skin sewn together. The word “regalia” carries a spiritual connotation within itself.

Beyond, and before those facts, we recognize, and pay tribute to all those animals and plants that gave up their lives in order for us to cover ourselves, and to make ourselves more beautiful. This is why this is important.

There is so much more to say, but this will do for now. -Casey-

I wanted to put this on the blog for a while now.

This is what is said, in what people call the “Peace Treaty”, or what I call the defense agreement between Massasoit and the pilgrims.

This passage is found in

-Mourt’s Relation, A Journal of the Pilgrims at Plymouth-

It is found on page 56, bottom of the page. I would like you to read this and send me your comments. [Tim- what are you handing out homework? ED. ] Who do you think it favors? Who got the better deal? (we already know the outcome today). Here it goes……….

1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of our people.

2. And if any of his did hurt to any of ours, he should send the offender, that we might punish him.

3. That any of our tools were taken away when our people were at work, he should cause them to be restored, and if ours did any harm to any of his, we would do the like to them.

4. if any unjustly war against him, we would aid him; if any did war against us , he should aid us.

5. He should send to his neighbor Confederates, to certify them of this,that they might not wrong us, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace.

6. That when their men came to us, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them, as we should do our pieces when we came to them.

Lastly, that doing thus, King James would esteem of him as a friend and ally.

What do you think who gets the better deal? let me here from you post a comment!

See how big our tobacco got from may 08 till august 08?

This is as big as it gets, but the leaves will get bigger. They are spade shaped and not as big as tobacco for cigarettes.

The tobacco that grows in Virgina today is tall with long thin leaves. All tobacco originates here in North America and was brought to Europe as a novelty.

Canoes in the river.

A smoke house, for smoking and preserving fish and shell fish.

This is our summer house made from cattail mats it is the one we just finished the frame now the mats go on.

This is me (Tim) at Six Flags, (Agawam Mass.) last week next to this thing. How about this stereotypical figure next to me! I thought I should strike a pose next to it!

What do you guys think?

-send me a comment-

Brian working on a boat last year.

We call these Mishoon in the Wampanoag language. They are all burnt out with fire, like this one is. Nice job Brian! What do you guys think?

Send a comment to me and I will respond to it.

Hi Readers; it is Tim Turner again, the site supervisor at the Wampanoag homesite, and here is this week’s report.

First, I want to say sorry about last weeks blog. I did not write a blog last week as I promised. We had a problem at one of our modern buildings that has our Internet connections. We did not have power in that building, it had gone out in one of the thunderstorms last week.

Here is what happened in the second half of our Strawberry Thanksgiving.

The feast and the clambake turned out very well.

Afterward, we started to prepare for the doubleball game and the football games too. We painted on our bodies white or black designs so we could tell who was on who’s team. Then it was time to go up to the ball field.

When we go up to the ball field we sing a very special song all the way up to the field. [It is a song of Friendship so there are no hard feelings after the games. -Editor's note]

We started with the boys football game and it was a great game. The boys played very hard, the final score was 6 to4.

The next game was the women’s doubleball game. I have already posted a picture of that on the blog so you can see it. The girls worked very hard out on the ball field; they played for about an half-hour. The score of that game was 1 to 0; what a game those girls played.

The last game we had was the men’s football game and it was so very hot out there. The game before, I was yelling at the girls to run faster. (Now I know why they were telling me to be quiet and get ready for the men’s game.)

My twin brother and I played goalie for each side to start the game, and again we were on different teams. I did not win that game either; we lost 7 to 3. (Oh well, can’t win ‘em all the time.)

It was a great day and we had lots of fun.

Well, hope to have more next time I write.

See ya.

Tim

Hello Readers,

It is Tim Turner the Site Supervisor of the Wampanoag Home site again with this weeks report form the home site.

First, let me say I am sorry I did not have pictures ready before my post; Casey or I will post some later.

Well, Saturday’s Strawberry Thanksgiving was awesome. I got to work at about 8:00am and some of the fires were going already (thanks Darius). The fires were hot, so we could cook the food for the day, and cook we did. We had a clambake (clams, quahogs, crabs, lobsters) and we had some fish baked in clay; a salmon and a striped bass. We also had a shellfish soup that was so good. We roasted some duck too; Mm Mm good. We also had lots of strawberries; my stomach was full of them.

I went and got dressed down stairs. I wore my brass cuffs on my arms, and my rattles on my legs. The rest of the staff was in between 8:30am and 9:00am or there about.

We started the day off with some singing and dancing, and the visitors love that because we had them join in on the dancing part of that.
The next thing we did was the canoe races. I was so excited for that, I wanted my Championship back and here came my chance. We first picked four man teams, I knew something was up when I saw some of the guys around each other. I guess some of the young staff had already made there own team, I think they wanted to take some of us older guys out. I got my dream team together, me and one of the guys that had won last year (Darius) so I thought I had it made. The first match up was the younger ones and my team. We smoked them!! All the way across the river and back, we beat them by the whole length of the river. I hope that taught them a lesson not to pick teams before anyone else. I was so happy I knew I was almost there to my championship, my goal of the day.

I got my wish. I was up against my twin brother and some of the strongest men for the championship. I was not concerned about that at all, I was very excited. The paddle was dropped in to the water (that was the signal to start the race).
We started awesome; both of the boats were going very fast side by side across the river and I was feeling good about this. The race was on; we got to the turn across the river and things got a little crazy.
Both boats crossed in front of each other and it was all out for the race back to shore.
When it was all done I lost by three feet. I felt worse than when the Patriots lost the super bowl. My stomach hurt and I was out of breath. It was the best race I been involved with for a long time. I gave the other team their due, they were great.
Well, I did not win my championship back, but I lost to the best.

The girls also had a canoe race and I watched Melanie, one of the most experienced staff win the women’s boat race. She was great in the back of the boat steering it.
We had a nice feast and then did some more singing and dancing and we started to prepare for the football game and double game.
I will write about that in next weeks blog and at that time I hope to have pictures, so you must tune in next week.

If you please, you can give some feedback with a comment below.

Thanks. tim

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to say “hi” to some teachers I met on the homesite here at Plimoth Plantation; I think it was on Saturday 6/21/08.
It was four teachers from Oklahoma and I told them about our blog and they said they would visit it, “So hello teachers from Oaklahoma.”

Thanks

tim