Category: Mohican

Some of the participants at an Indigenous Peoples’ Day event on Monday, Oct. 9 at Giggle Park. Photo by Shaw Israel Izikson.

Great Barrington — The Alliance for a Viable Future held its annual Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations on Friday, October 6, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center, and Monday, October 9, at Giggle Park. The holiday honors Native American peoples and their cultures and takes place on the second Monday in October, on the Columbus Day federal holiday.

Great Barrington adopted the holiday in 2019, while President Joseph Biden issued a presidential proclamation commemorating the holiday in 2021. However, Massachusetts does not officially recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day, despite bills being introduced for the past three years in the state’s legislature. The latest bill was introduced in February and a public hearing was held on the bill by a joint committee of the State House and Senate in late September.

“To me, these events are all about unity, healing, and people coming together,” Shawn Stevens, a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians told The Berkshire Edge. Stevens has participated in several of the Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrations organized by The Alliance for a Viable Future. “This is a reminder to all of our people, not just people who are Native American, that we all have indigenous roots and we have to have that mindset to protect Mother Earth and make a better place for the next generations and beyond,” Stevens said. “What do I think people can learn from Indigenous Peoples’ Day? I think they should learn that my people, the Mohican people, are still here. We are all still alive. Being indigenous is more of a mindset. We all come from indigenous cultures that…

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PITTSFIELD — Captured in a new bronze plaque at the Herberg Middle School by the school auditorium is an acknowledgement of those who came before.

The plaque, which was presented to students on Thursday doesn’t recognize former students or teachers or staff — it goes back much further. The plaque is a land acknowledgement recognizing the forced removal of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans from their ancestral lands in Berkshire County and beyond.

For the last two years, eighth grade students who were part of the changemaker club at the middle school — an after-school group focused on the environment, government and social needs — worked alongside eighth grade social studies teachers Jen Jaehnig and Jen Towler to learn more about the tribe.

The teachers attended a workshop hosted by Heather Bruegl, a first-line descendent Stockbridge-Munsee and citizen of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the director of cultural affairs for the Stockbridge-Munsee Community in 2021. Towler and Jaehnig said after the workshop they started thinking about how they could present what they’d learned to their students.

“I think really that’s kind of where the changemaker club came from,” Towler said. “We thought that [the tribal history] was a great local topic that we didn’t know anything [about] and definitely our kids didn’t.”

The Mohican peoples lived in southwest Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey when European settlers first came to the region in the 1600s. During the 1700s and early 1800s, those settlers pushed the Mohican Nation ever westward from their ancestral lands. In 1856 the tribe signed a treaty with the United States government that established the reservation in Wisconsin where the…

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Police are investigating human remains found by parks workers at Wahconah Park on Tuesday.

A swampy area of the grounds is taped off at Wahconah Park. 

Update at 3:53 p.m.: Police say the remains were collected by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and that they were in an advanced state of decomposition. No identification has been made. 

A city employee who was cutting brush in the park made the discovery but that location is not part of the baseball field. 

 

The detective bureau is investigating and police said there is no indication of any threat to the general public. 

 

Anyone who can provide information is asked to call 413-448-9705. Information can also be provided anonymously via 413-448-9706, or by texting PITTIP and your message to TIP411 (847411).

 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Police are investigating human remains found Tuesday on the grounds of Wahconah Park.

A swampy area between the parking lot and the park on Wahconah Street was taped off after a late morning call from the Parks Department reporting the find.

 

“We were called by the Parks Department,” Police Cpt. Matthew Kirchner said. “We’re investigating. We have a deceased party.”

 

He said parks workers were doing routine maintenance when the body was found at approximately 11 a.m.

 

iBerkshires was on the scene at about 1:15 p.m. and police said no further information could be released at that time about the identity, age or gender of the remains. Police were waiting for the medical examiner to arrive.  

 

Police would not confirm or deny a report about the condition of the remains.

…

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October 6, 2023 Marci Glaus

Oct. 9, 2023, will mark Wisconsin’s fifth year commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day.

Wisconsin is home to 12 sovereign Native American nations:

• Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa
• Brothertown Indian Nation
• Forest County Potawatomi
• Ho-Chunk Nation
• Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin
• Oneida Nation
• Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians
• Sokaogon Chippewa Community
• St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
• Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians

PBS Wisconsin Education, along with the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education, Wisconsin Historical Society and the Wisconsin Act 31 Coalition provide accurate and authentic educational resources for educators, learners and anyone looking to learn more about the histories, cultures and tribal sovereignty of Wisconsin’s First Nations through the Wisconsin First Nations website.

Explore Wisconsin Indigenous lands and people through videos, booklists and learning tools, including the video collection, The Ways. PBS Wisconsin Education recently updated this free-to-use collection of language and culture stories from Native communities around the central Great Lakes that explores traditional ways and those of today. Updates include contemporary video stories, maps and educator guides with story summaries, discussion questions and supplemental essays.

Looking forward, Native American Heritage Month begins in November, with many opportunities for viewing and learning. Learn more about Native American Heritage with programs from PBS Wisconsin, and get ready for Electa Quinney Day on Nov. 1, 2023, with an exciting new release in the PBS Wisconsin Education Wisconsin Biographies collection. Electa Quinney: Mohican Teacher and Mentor will spotlight Electa Quinney of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community Band of Mohican Indians. Quinney’s story, developed in collaboration with the Stockbridge-Munsee…

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Is there any time of the year in Ohio more beautiful than Autumn?

As the temperatures begin to dip, the Buckeye State comes alive with a vibrant display of fall foliage. If you’re a leaf-peeper in search of the perfect autumn adventure, you’re in the right place.

In this guide, we’ll take you on a journey through some of Ohio’s most picturesque locations for viewing the fall foliage ensuring you have an unforgettable autumn experience.

Hocking Hills State Park

via Facebook

Address: 19852 OH-664, Logan, OH 43138

Our first stop is Hocking Hills State Park, a total gem in southeastern Ohio. Known for its rugged terrain, deep gorges, and towering waterfalls, Hocking Hills becomes a mecca for foliage enthusiasts in the fall. The park’s hiking trails offer some of the most picturesque views of the changing leaves. Whether you’re exploring the trails on foot or taking a scenic drive through the region, Hocking Hills promises a spectacular autumn adventure.

Here are some resources for planning your perfect fall getaway to Hocking Hills:

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

via National Park Service

Address: 15610 Vaughn Rd, Brecksville, OH 44141

Nestled between Akron and Cleveland, Cuyahoga Valley National Park boasts diverse landscapes that truly come to life during the fall season. The Cuyahoga River winds through the park, reflecting the fiery hues of the surrounding trees.

The Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail provides an excellent opportunity for cyclists and hikers to immerse themselves in the colorful foliage. For a unique experience, hop aboard the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad and enjoy the view from the comfort of a vintage train car.

Here are some resources for planning your perfect fall…

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) held a virtual roundtable with Tribal leaders from across Wisconsin to discuss their work combatting the opioid and fentanyl crisis and what more can be done to help Tribal communities save lives.

“Too many families know the pain of losing a loved one too soon to a drug overdose or poisoning. Our Tribal communities are often hit the hardest by the opioid epidemic, and I’m committed to ensuring they have the resources they need to save lives, help those suffering, and keep these deadly drugs out of our communities,” said Senator Baldwin. “I convened a group of Tribal leaders to discuss how federal support I helped deliver is making a difference, and how we can continue working together to combat this deadly epidemic.” 

Senator Baldwin was joined by leaders from the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa, Ho-Chunk Nation, Lac du Flambeau Tribe, Menominee Tribe, Sokaogon Chippewa Tribe, Oneida Nation, Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians.

In 2022, Wisconsin saw more than 1,350 opioid overdose or poisoning deaths, a 60 percent increase from five years earlier. American Indians or Alaska Natives had a higher drug overdose death rate than any other racial or ethnic group, according to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Increasingly, synthetic drugs like fentanyl are accelerating the rate of drug overdoses and poisonings. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly 108,000 Americans died between August 2021 and August 2022 from drug poisonings, with 66 percent of those deaths involving synthetic opioids like fentanyl. In 2021, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services found synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, caused 91 percent of opioid deaths in Wisconsin.

“I would like to acknowledge and say Yaw^ko (thank you) to Senator…

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Warriors Bowling League action continued, with Navaho defeating Mohican 3-1, Kickapoo defeating Apache 4-0, and Blackfoot defeating Comanche 3-1.

Standings

1. Kickapoo 15
2. Navaho 8
3. Commanche 8
4. Blackfoot 7
5. Mohican 5
6. Apache 5

Last weeks results

• Navaho 3 Mohican 1
• Kickapoo 4 Apache 0
• Blackfoot 3 Commanche 1

Team

• Scratch Game: Navaho 660; Commanche 660
• Scratch Series: Kickapoo 1826; Apache 1734
• Handicap Game: Mohican 883
• Handicap Series: Blackfoot 2469

Men

• Scratch Game: Jamel Bean 223; Clay Bean 194; Ryan Wilson 189
• Scratch Series: Dennis Trott 541; Vernon Harrison 510; Larry Dean 490
• Handicap Game: Andre Place 265; Llewellyn Jones 223; Clarence Burrows 223; Quinton Hayward 206
• Handicap Series: David Signor 700; Wilfred Furbert 606; Ellsworth Bean 568

Women

• Scratch Game: Miriam Caisey 183; Alisa Cann 147; Shampagne Cann 141
• Scratch Series: Susie Bradshaw 443; Tanya Iris 393; Akajae Mills 320
• Handicap Game: Takia Bean 225; Chrystie Simons 224
• Handicap Series: Jennifer Butterfield 622; C. Lynne Cann 605

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Shawn Stevens is an enrolled member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, whose ancestral homelands are the Berkshires, as well as the entire Hudson Valley. Photo courtesy of Alliance for a Viable Future.

Great Barrington — Alliance for a Viable Future (AVF) and the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center will present the second annual “Honoring Native America” event on Friday, October 6, to kick off Indigenous Peoples’ Day weekend in the Berkshires. Friday’s program consists of flute music performed by R. Carlos Nakai; stories from Mohican storyteller Shawn Stevens; and a talk by lawyer and peacemaker Cheryl Fairbanks, Esq. Executive Director of Alliance for a Viable Future Lev Natan will deliver opening remarks. The Mahaiwe describes the event as going “beyond performance into the interactive realm of ceremony and collective prayer.”

Born in 1946, R. Carlos Nakai is a Navajo and Ute flutist. He initially played brass instruments but switched to the Native American cedar flute due to an injury. Self-taught, Nakai released “Changes” in 1983 and signed with Canyon Records, producing over 37 discs for that label. His music blends traditional Native American melodies with original compositions. Nakai has collaborated with such musicians as composer Philip Glass, flutist Paul Horn, guitarist/luthier William Eaton, composer James DeMars, two-time-Grammy-winning producer Billy Williams, and a very long list of others. Nakai has received 11 Grammy nominations.

Although an ordained minister of the Universal Church of Light, Shawn Stevens does not answer to “shaman” or “medicine man.” Instead, he calls himself a helper. He is also a drummer, dancer, singer, flutist, historian, and especially a storyteller. Shawn is a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans, but his…

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