MCNAA NEWS BRIEF 

JANUARY THRU MARCH 2025

Dear MCNAA Members and Friends:

As you will recall, MCNAA will not be publishing an official TurtleTak Newsletter anymore.  The last issue that was sent to you, via e-mail and also posted to our website, was Oct-Dec 2024. As promised, I’m sending a "watered-down-no photos" version of some of the work and activities we’ve been doing over the past several months.

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE OFFICE

It’s unlikely that MCNAA will hold another pow-wow or any large in-door events any time soon but we have on-going partnerships and are collaborating with many community organizations on smaller events.  Currently, our primary focus has been on making sure Indigenous Native households as well as our Elders who live alone, are taken care of.  We are assisting many with their heating bills and other utilities, as well as with groceries.  This seems to be the primary need, in our communities, at this time, and through our Social Assistance Program we are willing and able to help in this important and critical way.

Our secondary focus has been on our Native students who are trying to get an education so that they can return to their respective communities and help in productive ways. We have been able to help our students by providing scholarship funds that help with various types of college related expenses.  We have been providing vital educational resources; offering opportunities for community building between the students from all the colleges; providing culturally-sensitive mentoring as well as career development advice. This has been done through our Scholarship & Educational Resources Program.

So, we have been staying very busy in the office working to help our people through these important programs.... as well as on the following tasks:

* Finalized and submitted the “Semiannual Report” to the AG’s Office for our 2024-2026 Fuel Assistance Grant.  The report consists of  numerous narrative questions and a financial component. The agency wants to read about how the heating assistance grant has benefited the communities during the initial reporting period.  As you will recall, this small grant supplements our existing heating assistance program (from private funds raised) enabling us to help many more Native households across the state.

* Finalized and submitted the Cummings Foundation Grant report, for our third year of funding for our Educational Resources Program. The report summarizes the work we're doing with Native college students which provides vital educational resources; offers opportunities for community building between students through meet & greets and book discussions; culturally-sensitive mentoring; and career development advice.

* Attended a grant information session on a funding and capacity building opportunity at the invitation of someone from Health Resources in Action (HRiA). While the funding opportunity included tribes as well as Native non-profit organizations, after the info session, it was clear that the opportunity is geared more towards tribal entities with existing health-related programs for “local communities” rather than a non-profit like MCNAA where our constituents are scattered throughout the Commonwealth. It was worth attending as it gave more insight as to what opportunities are out there that might or might not be aligned with MCNAA’s current programs and geographical service area.

* Continued to -- do the bookkeeping, reconcile bank accounts, pay MCNAA's monthly bills, respond to incoming e-mails, record donations, send donation receipt letters, attend training webinars, make updates to the website and face book pages and other routine tasks.

* Board Member, Dawn Duncan, continues to represent MCNAA on the Community Advisory Board (CAB) of the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS). They meet every other Wednesday to keep one another (tribal communities and Native non-profits) appraised on what’s going on as well as to hear from BSAS about new initiatives. #

Company One Theatre’s Production of Haunted

The Mass. Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA) was a community partner with Company One Theatre (C1) on the production of Haunted, an Indigenous horror comedy, written and directed by Mvskoke/Seminole artist Tara Moses. 

The show ran from January 24 to February 15, 2025 at the Central Branch of the Boston Public Library.  Board Member, Dawn Duncan, represented MCNAA on their Host Committee.  MCNAA members and MCNAA officials attended various nights of the show as well as a number of fantastic pre and post-show gatherings that included an Opening Night Celebration, Art & Action Thursdays, a Social, a Teen Night, a Conversation night with Playwright/Director Tara Moses. These events helped bring the communities together as well as promote the show.

There was some great feedback from those who attended.

“Haunted was really well done, and I highly recommend catching it. It's "pay as you can," another vital part of making art accessible to all.  On Thursdays, they have a guest artist (singer, musician, etc.), so that's an extra treat.”  Claudia F.

“The house was totally packed! What a grand success! And an absolutely fabulous show. My ribs hurt from laughing so much. Congratulations to MCNAA and all the others involved! Phenomenal.  I hope it continues its successful run and gets more of the public interested in the Land Back movement!”  Jane R.

“I attended the play over the weekend. Full house and amazing energy. So glad we attended.” John F.

For those of you who were able to attend the show, we hope you found it as humorous and as amazing as we did. It was great to be involved in this production. #

MCNAA’s Virtual Book Discussion held in January

Board Member, Claudia Fox Tree, facilitated MCNAA’s first book discussion of 2025 on Tuesday, January 21st to talk about the book “Indigenous Ingenuity: A Celebration of Traditional North American Knowledge.” In addition to the great discussions, we had the pleasure of listening and interacting with guest speaker, Hartman Deetz (Mashpee Wampanoag).

All of us were very impressed with Hartman and all he had to share. We found him to be extremely informative and knowledgeable about the subject matter…. and his words were powerful.  All attendees connected with Hartman on everything he said. We are delighted that Claudia thought to invite him as our guest speaker. Great choice!

Here are some comments from a few attendees about their favorite part of the presentation:

• Great conversation, and Hartman, as guest speaker, was wonderful.

• Being in community to talk about the things we had learned and admire the ingenuity of Indigenous people. Also, recognizing that we are all indigenous to someplace and benefit from knowing/returning to our indigeneity.

• Hartman's talk - so I wouldn't have minded if the whole event went to a full two hours to include everything he said plus more discussion about the book.

• Claudia Fox Tree's comments and facilitation were great!

• Hartmann's words were very inspiring; also loved the overall discussion and thoughts that everyone had…..and the desire of people to work on stuff.

Intro to Region 1 EJ TCTAC for Tribes & Native Non-Profits

The UCONN New England Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (EJTCTAC)

Several MCNAA Board Members along with Advisory Council Members attended an introductory webinar on Sunday, February 9, 2025 to learn about the EPA Region 1 Environmental Justice Technical Assistance Center, its partners, and how it can work for our community and organization.

The session was facilitated by Cedric Wood, Director of the Institute for New England Native American Studies and an agency at UCONN. 

The majority of us felt that it's important to be open to a broad range of funding and it's particularly important, at this time, for us to identify needs and work together to keep attention on them and apply for projects to help our communities.

It was a great introduction to this new initiative. #

Meetings with Community Partners

Several Board Members attended meetings with a few of our community partners: Essex County Community Foundation (ECCF) on February 13, 2025;  as well as with the Junior League of Boston on February 24, 2025. #

First Parish Church in Duxbury

On Sunday, March 9, 2025, Board Member, Dawn Duncan, spoke again at the First Parish Church in Duxbury.  During the service, she talked about how several students benefited from the funds they donated last year to MCNAA for scholarships. After the service, she spent time with congregants talking about “community” and “Native American issues” more generally. Dawn reported that it was a very nice time as usual.  The stories of the two students whom MCNAA awarded scholarships to with the donated church funds, were very well received.  The church is going to publicize our need for scholarship support for the next few weeks in hopes that they can raise a nice amount of funds again. We are grateful for their continued support. #

Where We Belong - The Play

The Mass. Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA) was an Arts & Entertainment Partner for the play “Where We Belong”.  It ran from February 28 - March 23, 2025 in the Black Box Theater at the Umbrella Arts Center in Concord, MA. It was written by Madeline Sayet (Mohegan Tribal Nation) the same person who directed Flying Bird’s Diary….the short film that MCNAA will be screening at Brandeis University in the Autumn 2025. It was directed by Tara Moses (Seminole/Mvskoke) who wrote and directed the play Haunted in which MCNAA was a community partner.

The play is about an Indigenous theatre-maker who journeys across international borders, personal history, and cultural legacies in search of a place to belong.

Complimentary tickets from the Marketing Department were offered to MCNAA for the opening weekend but board and advisory council members were so excited when they first heard about the play that they had already bought their tickets before the offer came in.

Several MCNAA Advisory Council members, as well as board members and a number of MCNAA members attended the performance over the course of the months-long production. #

Remaining Native – The Film

Folks from the Outreach Dept of the Salem Film Festival contacted MCNAA to inform us about the feature documentary film "Remaining Native" and to offer our members a discount on ticket purchases. Director Paige Bethmann, a Haudenosaunee woman, invited local Indigenous community members to be part of the screening. The film was shown on Saturday, March 29, 2025 at the Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, MA.

Remaining Native is a coming-of-age story told through the perspective of Ku Stevens, a young Native American runner navigating college athletics while the memory of his great-grandfather’s 50-mile escape from Indian boarding school begins to connect past, present, and future.

Here are a few reviews:

'I attended the screening of Remaining Native on Saturday and it was a very engaging, moving film. The audience was quietly and deeply attentive, with sniffles and tears notable throughout the crowd. The event was nearly sold out, and many stayed for the Q&A with the filmmakers. If this film is screened again in New England, I highly recommend attending! Thank you for sharing news of this event."  Kate Y.

"Mum & I went to see Remaining Native at the Salem Film Festival on Saturday!  Thank you for letting us know about it, otherwise I would have missed it. It was a well-crafted film that told a story of a young Native lad & his struggles with identity as well as a deeper narrative we are familiar with but the general public is not. It was difficult to watch at times, as it should be. There was a full house which was nice to see, and there were tears shed and maybe some eyes were opened just a bit.  I met the editor afterwards (in the lady’s room!) and we had a nice chat about some of the choices they made with the film. A perfect rainy Saturday activity!"  Maria W.

"It was stunning! Seriously, I want prints of some of the shots of the landscape in the film, the cinematography was so incredible! The land itself was certainly a character in the film. The s tory, of course, was incredibly moving. One of the audience members asked what Ku Stevens is doing now and the director said he is thriving and hopes to host his Remembrance Run again soon. He mentioned in the film that he goes by Ku and not his full name, Kutoven, which means "bringer of light in the darkness" because he didn't feel that he had lived up to that title yet. I hope he does now. The film and his run certainly shone a light on the horrifying history of the residential schools to a wider audience. Thank you for putting the film screening in your email -- I would not have looked at the film fest schedule otherwise." Jane R.

In the past, MCNAA has been a community partner to the Salem Film Festival. We’re grateful for this connection. #

UPCOMING

MCNAA’s Upcoming Book Discussion in April

Board Member, Claudia Fox Tree, will facilitate MCNAA’s next virtual book discussion on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 at 4PM “We Are the Middle of Forever: Indigenous Voices from Turtle Island on the Changing Earth.” Our Guest Speaker will be Julia Marden (Aquinnah Wampanoag). If you want to join the discussion, RSVP via the link below. #

UPDATE

MCNAA’s Screening of Flying Bird’s Diary - POSTPONED

Our film screening of Flying Bird’s Diary, in partnership with Brandeis University, scheduled for Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 5PM, has been postponed until Autumn 2025.  Please look for updated information after the summer. We are a bit disappointed but a few things, on both sides, weren't falling into place for a Thursday night event at the University. We are working on a new date and are looking to secure the Wasserman Cinémathèque for a Saturday afternoon making travel during the day on a weekend easier than a Thursday night trying to come through Boston.  It'll be a while before an Autumn date is set because we want to make sure we won’t be conflicting with a pow-wow, an IPD event, or a tribal event around that time. When the new date is scheduled, we hope you will all make an effort to attend and support some of our local Native actors. #

We hope this update isn’t too lengthy and that it keeps you informed about some of the activities we are involved in and some of the important work we're doing.

Thank you for being part of the MCNAA community!

The MCNAA Leadership Team