For this year’s annual Indigenous Peoples Day event, Nowashe Village and the Friends of Wood Memorial Library & Museum will be hosting a variety of family friendly activities.  All day from 11am to 3pm family friendly activities such as atlatl throwing with Dan Shears (Nulhegan Abenaki) and beaded crafts will also be offered.

11am to- 2pm Chris Painted Turtle Harris (Mohegan) will be speaking about Native Americans’ relationship to drums and the art of drumming. Learn the origin of the drum and what the songs are about. This is an interactive program. Painted Turtle will first give visitors a demonstration of drumming and singing utilizing a large powwow drum and personal drums; then invite others to drum, Rattle or dance a friendship dance with him. Painted Turtle is member of the Mohegan Tribe and previously served on the Mohegan Tribal Council of Elders.

12pm – 3pm Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke) will be presenting on cultural storytelling including traditional children’s stories. This program is also hands-on as patrons can handle furs, tools, clothing, and other cultural items while hearing the story of CT’s Indigenous history. Darlene’s experience as a Traditional Native American Storyteller has taught her the importance of educating both young and old about the many misconceptions and stereotypes about her ancestors. Her style of teaching from a Native American’s point of view allows children and adults the opportunity to have a new understanding of Connecticut’s Indigenous Peoples lives both in the past and in the present.