Cultural-Traditional Arts Program
The Cultural-Traditional Arts Program offers vibrant opportunities for cultural expression and public engagement through initiatives such as pow-wows, dance presentations, and craft-making workshops led by Native artisans, storytellers, and culture bearers. These events weave together culture, history, and tradition—inviting audiences to experience and learn about authentic Native American customs in meaningful, participatory ways.
For more than three decades, these quality cultural-traditional activities have taken place across the Commonwealth—at indoor venues, beside ponds, and in open fields and fairgrounds. Each location is transformed into a dynamic site of Native American learning and connection, symbolically linking us to the earth, the water, and our shared history.
Preserving Cultural Traditions
Pictured to the right are several videos of our participation at ECCF's Arts & Culture Summit on September 27, 2019 that took place at the Cabot Theatre in Beverly, MA and at the Dane Street Church. The videos were taken by Peabody Access TV.
The first video showcases our participation at the Summit, featuring MCNAA’s 4-Generations Dance Troupe. Our first dance was the Grand Entrance into the Theatre followed by a Round Dance with most of the audience.
The second video features a 360 degree view of an inpromptu performance at Dane Street Church for the same Summit! Hand drumming and singing was shared by Devin Wixon Grabowski.
We have added a third video of a 2 minute news story about Mashpee Wampanoag artisan, Marlene Lopez, and her finger weaving.(Click on photo.) It was shared with us by Dan Brielmann with her permission.
Dan wrote that “Native Americans have lived in this land longer than any other group of people. Yet, we don't know much about their culture and traditions. Dan learned a lot when he attended the MCNAA Pow-wow at Plug Pond in 2019. Native Americans are spectacular artists, working on crafts that have been handed down through the generations. Marlene Lopez is one of these artisans. She's going to show us what finger weaving is about and the weaving’s ceremonial connections.”
The 4th video is a 4 minute news story about Aquinnah Wampanoag artisan, Julia Marden and the art of twining. It was shared with us by Dan Brielmann.
Dan wrote that “Traditional arts are very important. We learned a lot about the many contributions Native Americans have made at the Pow-wow held in 2019 which was the last one before COVID-19. In this video we are going to learn a little about twining which is something all indigenous people have done. It is possibly the oldest form of basketry. Julia Marden is keeping this tradition alive and passing it on to future generations. Let's see how it's done.”
Below, are photos of various artists, who have, over the years, performed at our events or in our cultural projects.
