KOONEPEAM!
WELCOME!
Ohketeau is A Native-led cultural center rooted in community, culture, and the land
Ohketeau (“Oh-ke-tay-oh”)—meaning “a place to plant and grow” in the Nipmuc language—is the only Native-founded and run cultural center in Central and Western Massachusetts. Through traditional workshops, youth programs, community gatherings, and cultural events, we uplift Indigenous voices and support the health, wellbeing, and cultural continuity of Native communities across New England and around the country.
What We Are Doing
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Through shared resources and collective planning, we practice the values we wish to see in our society while fostering access, understanding, and compassion across differences.
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Our mission is to uplift Indigenous communities through cultural programs, outreach, and education while fostering collaboration, shared learning, and collective care that supports community health and wellness.
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Through youth programs and intergenerational engagement with parents and Elders, we strengthen kinship networks while supporting learning around health, environmental stewardship, traditional pathways, and personal growth.
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Our work also centers environmental kinship through initiatives like beach cleanups, mishoon projects, community gardening partnerships, and leadership and education opportunities connected to caring for the land and water.
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Serving Tribal members across New England and beyond, Ohketeau fosters cross-cultural learning, collaboration across tribal nations, and community-driven processes that support lasting collective resilience.
“And so let us align ourselves with that creative power and spirit of Turtle and see what we can create together.”