Ohketeau Cultural Center hosted its 2nd Annual Youth Talent Showcase on Saturday June 15th, 2024 at the Ashfield Community Hall.

The event was opened by a Nipmuc Elder and Ohketeau co- director, Larry Spotted Crow Mann, who led attendees in a Strawberry Moon Welcoming.

We had an amazing group of youth from a variety of Tribal communities participate in thus years event.

A panel of four Celebrators (Jasmine Goodspeed, Asa Peters, Anoki Mann, and Cito Colon) took the lead in sharing how each youth impacted them with their performances and presentations.

The event was held in person and via Facebook live.

The Ohketeau Cultural Center and our co-producer Double Edge Theatre hosted "The Living Presence of Our History Part X: A panel of Indigenous leaders and scholars will delve into the intricacies and complications regarding Native appropriation."

This panel of Indigenous leaders and scholars delved into the intricacies and complications regarding Native appropriation and explored how these narratives affect Native and non-Native communities today and the possible steps to educate, decolonize, and make changes using an Indigenous lens.

Panelists include:
Lawrence Bacca, Pawnee
Julie Dye, Pokagon Band Potawatomi Nation
Vincent Schilling, Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe
Tomantha Sylvester, Sault St. Marie Ojibwe
Brittney Walley, Nipmuc
Adrienne Keene, Cherokee Nation

This event was curated and moderated by Rhonda Anderson, Ohketeau Founder and Co-Director, and will be livestreamed via Howlround.

The Living Presence of Our History is a series co-produced by Ohketeau Cultural Center and Double Edge Theatre with funding by Jacob's Pillow and Mass Humanities. This series has brought together panels of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and allies to delve into the many intricate and complicated contemporary issues facing Indigenous peoples today. We lift and center Indigenous voices and offer Native-led solutions and action items for the listener.

This weekend a group of women came together to participate in the Fancy Shawl workshop led by Evangelina Macias and hosted by the Ohketeau Cultural Center.

Eva gave a detailed history of the Fancy Shawl Traditional dance style and shared about the mentors who have provided her with the knowledge and technique. The information she shared provided context and understanding for the dance and the connection between the dancer and the natural world. Some of the women who attended were familiar with this style of Traditional Dance and others including a few children were experiencing dancing Fancy Shawl for the first time.

The participants all supported each other with encouraging words and comforting lightheartedness. A wonderful time was had by all.

Over the weekend Evangelina Macias led a Hoop Dance workshop, which was hosted by the Ohketeau Cultural Center.

Eva provided all of the hoops for participants and at the end of the workshop all participants were able to take a hoop home. Eva discussed the history of Hoop Dance and recognized the mentors who have guided her the intricacies of this traditional dance style. Eva shared everything from how to make hoops to a variety of tricks that can be done with 1, 2 or 3 hoops.

Attendees ages ranged from toddlers to Elders and it was wonderful to see this intergenerational mix enjoying this workshop together. Everyone was provided with the necessary support to be successful and had fun laughing and learning as a community.

Ohketeau would like to thank Evangelina Macias for creating two wonderful community centered, dance for wellness workshops that we were honored to host this past weekend.

We had our first children’s workshop and the children were full of smiles and laughter. The workshop introduced them to foundational dance and movement principles that encouraged body awareness through a variety of fun and exploratory exercises. Moms and dads participated with their children making for an excellent parent child engagement activity.

The women’s workshops provided an opportunity for women to get to know each other and work as a team while connecting through movement. A variety of dance modalities were utilized throughout the workshop peaking the many interests and creating a fun, lighthearted atmosphere. All of the women expressed that they had positively benefited from the experience and were looking forward to future wellness workshops

The Ohketeau Cultural Center and our co-producer Double Edge Theatre will be hosting "The Living Presence of Our History Part IX: A Conversation with Indigenous Screenwriters Regarding Representation on Screen" on October 15th at 1pm.

A panel of Indigenous screenwriters and producers will discuss the importance of telling our stories on screen.  We will explore how these narratives affect Native and non-Native communities today and the possible steps to educate, decolonize, and make changes using an Indigenous lens.

This event is curated and moderated by Rhonda Anderson, Ohketeau Founder and Co-Director, and will be livestreamed via Howlround.

The Living Presence of Our History is a series co-produced by Ohketeau Cultural Center and Double Edge Theatre with funding by Jacob's Pillow and Mass Humanities. This series has brought together panels of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and allies to delve into the many intricate and complicated contemporary issues facing Indigenous peoples today. We lift and center Indigenous voices and offer Native-led solutions and action items for the listener.

A Mayoke Photography & Film Production - In Association with the Ohketeau Cultural Center & Double Edge Theatre presents the exclusive premiere film screening of  

Anoki
’More than a Photo ~ More than a Powwow’

Directed by Aurélie Debusschère

October 11
7:00pm, at Double Edge Theatre

A young  Nipmuc man  who grew up as a talented Pow Wow singer with his brothers, shares his love of Tradition, Family, Music, and the overwhelming challenges to maintain them.

In a modern world full of complexities, contradictions, and far too often hardship towards Indigenous peoples; he struggles to find his place between Two Worlds.

Under the guidance of his father: award winning writer /poet Larry Spotted Crow Mann, Elders, and the Ohketeau Cultural Center, Anoki begins a renewed journey  amid the nurturing background of his Tribal homelands.

Anoki  opens up his Heart like the Sacred Drum, so that we may listen in earnest to the reverberating message of urgency that must be told, witnessed, and shared across the World.

This unflinching Truth Telling exposes the moral ambiguity of our society and challenges us all to be Present, when far too often Indigenous Peoples are viewed in the rearview mirror.

An unforgettable and intimate journey that reveals the resilience of the human spirit, culture and how Indigenous allyship can work towards restorative justice. 

Ohketeau Greets Little Amal

AMAL WALKS ACROSS AMERICA. ONE LITTLE GIRL. ONE BIG HOPE.

Little Amal is a 12-foot puppet of a 10-year-old Syrian refugee girl who has traveled across 13 countries meeting more than a million people, and watched by tens of millions more online. This fall, she will journey 6,000 miles across the United States in one of the largest free public festivals ever created.

From all corners of the globe, people have visited Little Amal and shared in her message of hope, healing and that everyone deserves to have a home.

On September 10th, 2023 She was Welcomed to Nipmuc homelands by Larry Spotted Crow Mann, Willow Daly, Anoki Mann, Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed, Andre Strongbearheart Gaines and Daishuan Red Deer Garate on behalf of Nipmuc People.

Hundreds of people young and old came out to support and share in the message from near and far.

The shared and lived experience of removal and displacement by the First Nations of this land and many Refugees around the world made this Welcoming all the more Significant.

Larry Spotted Crow Mann led a Nipmuc healing song and gifts were provided to Amal for sustenance and healing by the Nipmuc People.

Double Edge Theatre staff, partners and Jupiter Dance Company walked Little Amal to Ashfield Lake from the Ashfield Common with wonderful song and dance!

Andre Strongbearheart Gaines and Daishuan Red Deer Garate paddled across Ashfield Lake in a traditional mishoon; a burned out canoe, right here in Ashfield by at the Ohketeau Cultural Center to greet Little Amal with a traditional Nipmuc Paddle Song.

An absolutely amazing experience for all!

 (A Walk with Little Amal in Ashfield was curated as part of Double Edge Theatre and Jupiter Performance Studio's Art and Survival Performance Festival)

This workshop welcomed non-Indigenous people to learn the Eastern Woodlands Indigenous process of "brain tanning" a deer hide. This full day experience guided folks through hands-on practice with the different stages of hide tanning. While this process cannot be completed in a single day, participants left with their hide and the knowledge to finish the process on their own.

Photo by Scott Foster Photography

Ohketeau Cultural Center was excited to host an event that increased the visibility of the Indigenous youth in our community and empowered them to share their many talents. All Artistic disciplines were welcome, including but not limited to dance, music, theatre, media arts, spoken word, and visual arts. We are already planning next year’s youth event.

Photo by Scott Foster Photography

The Ohketeau Cultural Center and our co-producer Double Edge Theatre will be hosting

Living Presence of Our History Part. VIII: A Conversation with Indigenous Authors Regarding Representation in Literature

The Living Presence forum continues conversations with Indigenous community members and allies regarding issues we face today as Native peoples. A panel of scholars and local Indigenous authors will discuss the importance of our stories in literature. We will explore how these narratives affect Native and non-Native communities today and the possible steps to educate, decolonize, and make changes using an Indigenous lens. Panelists included:

Dr. Debbie Reese, Nambe Pueblo
Yvonne Tiger (ABD), Creek Seminole Cherokee
Professor Eric Gansworth, Onondaga
Morgan Talty, Penobscot
Christopher Newell, Passamaquoddy
Larry SpottedCrow Mann, Nipmuc

This event is curated and moderated by Rhonda Anderson, Ohketeau Founder and Co-Director, and was livestreamed via Howlround.

The Living Presence of Our History is a series co-produced by Ohketeau Cultural Center and Double Edge Theatre with funding by Jacob's Pillow and Mass Humanities. This series has brought together panels of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and allies to delve into the many intricate and complicated contemporary issues facing Indigenous peoples today. We lift and center Indigenous voices and offer Native-led solutions and action items for the listener.

The Ohketeau Cultural Center and our co-producer Double Edge Theatre will be hosting "Living Presence of Our History Part. VII: Indigenous Playwrights, Theater-makers, and Storytellers: Telling Our Stories" on November 13th at 1pm.

This conversation will have a panel with Native American scholars, playwrights, and actors on the importance of seeing our narratives on stage and screen.

This event is curated and moderated by Rhonda Anderson, Ohketeau Founder and Co-Director, and will be livestreamed via Howlround.

The Living Presence of Our History is a series co-produced by Ohketeau Cultural Center and Double Edge Theatre with funding by Jacob's Pillow and Mass Humanities. This series has brought together panels of Indigenous leaders, scholars, and allies to delve into the many intricate and complicated contemporary issues facing Indigenous peoples today. We lift and center Indigenous voices and offer Native-led solutions and action items for the listener.

3:00pm - 5:00pm
521 Main Street, Ashfield MA

This event is In-Person and Live-streamed.

The program includes Eastern Woodland Traditional Dance demonstrations and songs with some audience participation.

Followed by a discussion with Elder and Culture Keeper Al George on the importance of the land, Clan System, and maintaining our identity as Indigenous People

In-person attendance for this event is limited.
Please reserve your spot today by emailing info@ohketeau.org for a Reservation request.
Livestreaming will be available via Facebook Live

IROQUOIS TRADITIONAL DANCERS
Trisha General (Seneca)
Al George (Cayuga)
Francis George (Seneca)
Jake George (Seneca)
Jesse George Jr. (Seneca)
Dazarrious John (Seneca)

Are you an Indigenous artist in Massachusetts thinking about centering indigeneity and creativity in public spaces? This session is for Indigenous artmakers interested in creating art in public places in their communities!

Meet the New England Foundation for the Arts Public Art Team and learn about their upcoming grant opportunities for BIPOC community members.

This session will provide space for artists to get to know one another, NEFA’s public art team, and NEFA’s upcoming grant opportunities. We believe public art has the power to shift public culture and change the future. Through public art grant-making, NEFA aims to invest in artists and their creative practice, cultivate artists as civic leaders, and strengthen a community of practice with artists like you.

Register today!
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 8 of 8.

Register Today!

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 7 of 8.

Register Today!

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 6 of 8.

Register Today!

A panel of scholars and local Indigenous people to discuss how the colonizer lens on our local history in public spaces can further the extinction narrative. The panel explored how these narratives affect Native and non-Native communities today and the possible steps to educate, decolonize, and make changes using an Indigenous lens.

On March 26th, Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. led a hand-drum making workshop.

The workshop started with an introduction from Andre, and an understanding of the relationship to the animal with the drum and to his people. After lunch, there was a small social gathering where Andre shared songs and speak further on the relationship of the drum and the songs. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants had a completed drum of their making. 

View the Photo Gallery

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 5 of 8.

Register Today!

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 4 of 8.

Register Today!

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 3 of 8.

Register Today!

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange is continuing to host an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome! This is session 2 of 8.

Register Today!

The Anishinaabe Theater Exchange will be hosting an 8 part online workshop series titled Wellness Through an Anishinaabe Lens. This series will introduce participants to key elements of Anishinaabe Lifeways through the Niizhwaaswi Mishomisag (7 Grandfather Teachings) and Niizhwaaswi Dodemag (7 Clans) as tools for living a good life. We will break down how these gifts and responsibilities have the power to enrich our cultures, personal journeys, and global society. Within each workshop you will discover one of the 7 Grandfathers as well as explore the Anishinaabe Clan system, roles, language and world views. We will experiment with movement and writing exercises. Drop-ins welcome!

Register Today!