Introduction
This place where you are standing has long been a place of flowing waters, mystery, and spiritual energy.
Meditation (Onigan)
The following story is from Rich Holschuh. He is a spokesman for the Elnu Abenaki. It is an invitation to you. This is an opportunity for you to understand what it means for Native Peoples to BELONG TO, and be SPOKEN TO BY the land. Just for a few moments, set aside the philosophy of time and place that we've inherited from our European traditions. Here, we invite you to experience a different kind of insight.Jesse Bowman Bruchac, Eastern Woodland Flute
Archeology of the Battlefield Grant
An unprecedented consortium of historic commissions from 4 neighboring towns and 3 tribal historic preservation offices have partnered with the Town and the National Park Service Battlefield Protection Program to conduct a comprehensive study of the extent and context of the 1676 battle that was a turning point in the King Philip’s War. An additional purpose is to engage local officials, landowners and the interested public in effort to locate and encourage the protection of the battlefield. Public events regularly attract 100+ attendees, which demonstrate substantial public interest in the project. The initial research has laid the groundwork for a longer term battlefield archeology project that is underway. national historic register designation, and cultural tourism. Archeological investigations in Montague, Gill, and Greenfield will be ongoing through August 2018.The project stems from a 2004 reconciliation ceremony between the Montague Board of Selectmen and several tribal dignitaries to commence a healing process that involves an exchange of actions to promote understanding about and between cultures.
Native Identity
Archeological studies of this area have shown evidence of human habitation in the form of projectile points and pottery shards, often dated back as far as 10,000 years. The rich culture of these Native Peoples has been sustained, and carried forward by generations of Tribal People here, because the inherited cultural practices are meaningful, useful, and wise.One aspect of this culture is that the Elders are responsible for knowing the stories and practices of earlier generations, and passing the collective wisdom along to the future generations, so I’d like you to meet two Nipmuk Elders who have agreed to share some of their thoughts about the past, the present, and the future.
The Massacre
At dawn on May 19, 1676, nearly 150 settlers and garrison soldiers swept down the slope to the refugee camp at Peskeompskut. These men had ridden out from towns downriver from here, determined to strike a blow against the Native camp at the falls. They were seeking revenge for years of attacks on their homes, families and livestock. The target of their dawn attack was the non-combatant camp of Native elderly, women and children, who were seeking sanctuary from the war which had left them refugees in their own land.The camp was composed of vulnerable Nipmuck , Abenaki, Narragansett, and Wampanoag. The sounds of gunfire reached the Native soldiers' camp across the Connecticut River, on the river islands , and on the Wissatinnewag hilltop fort. They quickly reacted, crossed the river and counter-attacked but not before more than 300 in the refugee camp became victims of the merciless, show-no-quarter dawn raid.The settler forces then panicked and fled in the face of the counterattack, losing close to 50 of their men. This narrative describes some aspects of the unfolding drama and tragedy of that day on May 19, 1676.
My Story with Liz "Coldwind" Santana Kiser
I am Liz” Coldwind” Santana Kiser, a seventy year old Elder, Council Woman and currently Tribal Historical Preservation Officer for the Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians. I am married with six children, two stepchildren, twenty five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. I have worked for many years on behalf of my tribe in addressing healthcare needs. In 1995, I founded the Nipmuc Women’s Health Coalition, The Coalition provided disease prevention and health promotion information to Nipmuc/k people and other tribes throughout New England. In collaboration with the University of Massachusetts Medical School, we designed many research based health education initiatives including the “Nipmuck Study Circles”. The Nipmuc Study Circles was a community based health education project that focused on diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The project was sponsored and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. In 1999, I again collaborated with the University of Massachusetts Medical School and coordinated two major health care conferences. The health conferences focused on health conditions that have affected Nipmuck people and solutions to improve their health and lifestyles. In 2000, I worked with the Great Brook Valley Health Center and co-founded the Nipmuc Family Dental, Clinic the center provided free dental treatment for Nipmuc/k people. With these and other accomplishments I am leaving my children and all Nipmuck children a legacy of history, knowledge, improved health, and wellbeing for future generations.
Logging Story
From the late 1800s, through to 1915, logs as big as 30 feet long were floated down this river to sawmills in Massachusetts and Connecticut.Kenny Butler, fiddle
Industrial Era
Ed Gregory and Chris Clawson of the Montague Historical Society introduce how the canal area was used in post colonial America. The concepts of private property and land use differed dramatically from that of the American Native community, but would provide for a future of specialized trades and prosperity never before known. What happened here would attract new citizens from many distant lands, seeking opportunity not possible in the homes of their birth. Perhaps our ongoing challenge is to adapt the best concepts of Native tradition to guide the wise management of our material goals.Our website features a number of our own documentaries and preserved movie films related to local post colonial history. We also maintain an online database containing more than a thousand images from Franklin county. In addition to the archive of the Montague Historical Society, we also include many important photos from the Peter Miller and Ed Gregory Collections, as well as others.https://montaguearchive.org/
Sponsors
Funded with an Expand Massachusetts Stories Grant from Mass Humanities Suzanne LoManto- RiverCulture, chairDavid Brule-The Nolumbeka Project, co-chairRebecca Chase and Dan Bovair- Audri.Life, story developmentRich Holschuh-Elnu AbenakiDoug Harris-Tribal Historic Preservation ConsultantLiz Coldwater Santana Kiser-Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck IndiansKit Carpenter and Bob Perry-Gill Historical CommissionEd Gregory and Chris Clawson-Montague Historical SocietyDr. Kevin McBride and Dr. Ashley Bissonnette-University of ConnecticutDr. David. J. Naumec, Assistant Professor of History at Central Connecticut State UniversitySpecial Thanks ToHawk Henries-Eastern Woodland FluteJesse Bowman Bruchac- Eastern Woodland FluteKenny Butler-FiddleWalter Ramsey -Project ManagementJennifer Atwood-Mass HumanitiesNur Tiven- Logo and graphic designDCR and FirstLight Power
