Ohketeau hosted a self defense workshop alongside IMPACT Boston!
Though this workshop is centered around women’s self defense, Ohketeau honors our Two Spirit/queer/non-binary/trans kin and encourages those kin to feel welcome and safe in this space with us.
We are sharing the work of Ohketeau and our deep connections with our local Tribal Relations of the Mohegan Nation.
Kuttubatomish!
Calling Indigenous Artists!
Ohketeau is proud to be sponsoring a logo contest for Indigenous Artists of the Eastern Woodlands for the historic 2025 Natives Run the Boston Marathon event! This is your opportunity to see your art on a t-shirt at the Boston Marathon! There is a $100 cash prize for the winner.
Please submit your design by: March 8th Judging and deliberation will happen by the 15th. Winners recieve a free t-shirt, and gift basket in addition to seeing their designs featured during the marathon.
Send submissions to: info@ohketeau.org
Best of luck! We can’t wait to see what you come up with!
We are eternally proud of our team member Tomantha Sylvester for this stunning show!
How are you supporting Indigenous Theater today?
This past November, a few members of the DE Ensemble, along with partners from the Ohketeau, traveled to Lake Superior State University to continue developing a new performance titled Ishkode. Written, created, and performed by Tomantha Sylvester and directed and designed by Travis Coe, Ishkode unearths (or perhaps re-earths) and retells the Seven Fire Prophecies of the Anishinaabek. The Prophets spoke of a time when humanity would face a critical decision: to choose the path of destruction and malice or the path of life and unity. All that was prophesied has come to pass, and we are said to be living in the time of the last fire, where a “New People” will emerge to lead us into harmony and balance. Set in a technologically advanced research facility, we are taken on an unexpected journey through time by a whimsical, ever-evolving human… and robot? See more photos of the work here >>
Thank you to the team at Lake Superior State University and everyone who made this tour such a success.
Photos courtesy of Lake Superior State University and Travis Coe
There is long and lasting relationally between Black and Brown folx that we must acknowledge and honor every day. Not only was the land we stand upon stewarded by Indigenous people for thousands of years, but we know that the Nation that was planted here by those who colonized this place was built upon the backs of those who were forcibly taken from their homes and enslaved in order to feed the greed of this growing place.
New England is a place of great historical relation and kinship between Black and Indigenous folx. Many families have mixed family lines and intermingled stories.
This Black History Month, we encourage you to seek out knowledge and clarity about the places you love and hold dear. What Indigenous Nations resided there historically, and which peoples still live there? Whose labor allowed those places to flourish? When were measures taken to protect those members of society? How were those actions implemented, and with what grace? Finally, what reparative actions have been made in those places?
This month, and every month, we give honor to this history.
Aquene,
The Ohketeau Cultural Center and the Boston Athletic Association (BAA) have partnered to bring an exclusive opportunity to the Tribal Citizens of New England.
This is a Cultural Wealth and Health initiative to bring fitness, tradition and the historic legacy of Native American athletes to the platform it deserves.
We will be hosting a social gathering for all interested Tribal Citizens of New England.
Join us to hear about how to get a Bib, which is a registered number to compete in the Boston Marathon. We will also cover the training process and additional opportunities for Tribal Citizens to get involved in fitness training and wellness programs sponsored by the BAA.
Please Note: We understand that running in a Marathon takes significant training. We understand four months is not an ideal amount of time to train; unless you are already an athlete in training. This gathering will allow Tribal Citizens to explore their interests and perhaps decide to prepare for the 2026 Marathon Run.
Event Date: January 19th, 2024 Time: 1pm-4pm
Location: Hopkinton Center for the Arts
98 Hayden Rowe St, Hopkinton, MA 01748
Refreshments will be served. We would be happy to answer any question you may have via email or phone call. Please RSVP to this email or to info@ohketeau.org by Monday January 13th, 2025. Please include in your RSVP the number of Tribal Citizens attending.
Our Harvest Fest was a wonderful success bringing wellness, culture and school materials to youth in Western MA.
The Ohketeau Cultural Center in partnership with Native Lifelines of Boston provided vaccines, dental screenings, backpack giveaways, hoodies and more. All wrapped in a fun filled day of Eastern Woodland Stomp Dances', Algonquian traditional games & Stories.
Thank You all who came out!
*Some Photos courtesy J. Goodspeed, R. Antunez & J. Lim
Ohketeau held its first ever Community Day with partner organization Double Edge Theatre to great success. Activities included corn husk doll making, learning about Algonquian traditional food ways, singing, dancing, and a Native Flute demonstration.
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.
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
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.
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.
Co-produced by Double Edge Theatre, the Ohketeau Cultural Center and Anishinaabe Theater Exchange
Something Else
Written and performed by DE Company Member Tomantha Sylvester
Directed by DE Co-Artistic Director Jennifer Johnson
We follow Lucy, an incarcerated Native American woman on death row, as she seeks connection in her final moments.
How We Go Missing?
A reading premiere performed by the Anishinaabe Theater Exchange
Written by Carolyn Dunn (Muskogee Creek/Cherokee/Tunica-Choctaw-Biloxi)
and Tomantha Sylvester (Anishinaabe/ Ojibwe)
How We Go Missing examines the impact on those left behind, Indigenous sisterhood, and some of the ways in which Native women, in particular, go missing both physically and through erasure.
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.
Members of the Anishinaabe Theater Exchange were in residence creating a piece called How We Go Missing. This piece will examine stories of Indigenous survivance against colonial violence, lateral violence, and invisibility. The ATE will perform the final piece, written by Dr. Carolyn Dunn and Tomantha Sylvester, in Washington DC at Georgetown University May 4th – May 7th 2022.
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.
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