Category Archives: Art & Culture

A view of the saltmarsh at Allens Pond in Dartmouth and Westport. The marsh grass is bright and verdant and there is a small, white egret wading in the water in the distance.

Mass Audubon Issues Call for Indigenous Artists

Posted on November 29, 2022 by Ryan D.
A view of the saltmarsh at Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary in Dartmouth and Westport.

Mass Audubon invites local, Indigenous artists to submit interest applications for consideration to design a structural, elemental art installation to be featured at one or more Mass Audubon wildlife sanctuaries. The artwork is intended to spotlight, honor, and celebrate Indigenous relationships with nature and the land of Massachusetts and/or New England.  

Funding and Budget 

At this time, Mass Audubon has received funding from the Mass Cultural Council to pay an artist for conceptual and final designs. Once an artist is selected from the pool of interested applicants, Mass Audubon will pay $2,500 for conceptual drawings and another $2,500 for a final design. Mass Audubon is currently seeking funding for the fabrication and installation of the artwork. When funding for the installation is secured, the selected artist will have the opportunity to fabricate and install the final artwork. 

Design Parameters 

The final piece(s) should be constructed with elemental or natural materials (wood, stone, etc.), preferably sourced from in or around the New England region, and be able to withstand outdoor conditions. Pieces should be tactile and interactive in nature, celebrating and provoking reflection upon the Indigenous sovereignty, culture, and heritage of the region, including past, present, and future. The artwork may also highlight the artist’s own connection to nature and the land in Massachusetts and/or New England. Interpretive signage may be developed to accompany the piece, if appropriate.  

The Intent 

The application process is intended to find and contract with a local, Indigenous artist whom Mass Audubon will commission to design a concept for a future art installation. The application is for artists to express interest in consideration for the project; fully developed concepts are not required at this point.  

The interest form requests the following information: 

  • Name and contact information 
  • A brief description of the artist’s interest in the project and their personal connection with their Indigenous heritage and the nature and lands of what is now called Massachusetts 
  • A description of the artist’s work, style, and preferred medium(s) 
  • Links to examples of previous work, such as a digital portfolio, public Instagram account, or similar platform 

The application deadline is midnight on December 31, 2022.

To apply for consideration, please complete the interest form.

If you wish to upload photos of your past work, please do so here.

Side-by-side headshots of Claudia Fox Tree (Arawak/Yurumein) and Richard Holschuh (Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe)

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Ryan D.

November is Native American Heritage Month in the U.S., a time to celebrate the contributions, history, and culture of Indigenous Americans and an opportunity to elevate the voices of contemporary Native people. Mass Audubon is committed to taking action to support Indigenous rights and to work in partnership with Indigenous communities, and one key component of that is promoting and raising awareness of Indigenous-led events, speaking engagements, and resources for working toward equity and justice for Indigenous communities.

To that end, here are some great upcoming programs and resources featuring Indigenous leaders so that everyone can get involved and learn from the wisdom of Native peoples:

Indigenous Perspectives with Claudia Fox Tree

Organized by the Sharon Racial Equity Alliance, Mass Audubon is co-sponsoring a talk by professional educator Claudia Fox Tree, M.Ed. (Arawak/Yurumein) on November 2 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. This free online presentation, titled Settler-Colonist Ties to Thanksgiving and Columbus: The Indigenous Perspective, will dispel inaccurate information, address the myths surrounding Thanksgiving and Columbus, and provide missing historical facts from the Indigenous perspective.

A headshot of Richard Holschuh outdoors, with green forest and mountains behind him.
Rich Holschuh, founder and director of the Atowi Project

Relationship, Reciprocity, and Responsibility to the Land with Richard Holshuch

Richard Holschuh is kicking off the next On Belonging in Outdoor Spaces series (organized and funded by a group of Lincoln-based nonprofit organizations that includes Mass Audubon) on November 10 at 7:00 pm with a virtual presentation called N’Sibo: the River to Which I Belong. Rich is the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Elnu Abenaki Tribe and an independent historic and cultural researcher, and his work draws upon indigenous history, linguistics, geography, and culture to share beneficial ways of seeing and being in relationship with place. Learn more and register on the On Belonging website.

Learn the Truth About Thanksgiving at Felix Neck

Aquinnah Wampanoag Elder David Two Arrows Vanderhoop (founder of Sassafras Earth Education) and other Wampanoag guest speakers invite the community to bring a chair and a blanket and sit by the fire with them at a free outdoor event at Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary on Martha’s Vineyard on Thursday, November 18 from 4:00–5:30 pm. Their talk, “The Ungrateful Taking: The Truth About Thanksgiving” will reveal the true story of the Thanksgiving holiday and the origin myth of the United States. Registration is required for this free, outdoor event.

An illustrated graphic with various vegetables, including corn, acorns, and pumpkins, and red text that reads, "The 'Ungrateful Taking': The Truth About Thanksgiving"

Explore the Indigenous Practice of Gathering Wild Edibles

Foraging and gathering were a way of survival for Indigenous peoples and continue to be food security today. Kristina Hook, an Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribal Elder born and raised on Martha’s Vineyard, works to share her knowledge from growing up gathering wild foods and encourage everyone to keep the tradition going for future generations. Join her on Friday, November 26 at Felix Neck in Edgartown for one of two Gathering Wild Edibles programs—the first from 10:00 to 11:00 am and the second from noon to 1:00 pm (registration required). Check out a video from Sustainable Martha’s Vineyard to see a small preview of her vast knowledge.

Attend a Local Powwow

The Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness maintains a list of local powwows and special events hosted by tribal communities, many of which are open to the public. The last of the year, the Honoring the Veterans Powwow, takes place on November 13 at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center in Ledyard, CT, but check back to the MCNAA website regularly as new events are added for the coming year.

Read, Listen, Watch, and Learn

If you’re looking for resources to advance your understanding of Native American history, culture, and social justice issues, check out the 21-Day Racial Equity Indigenous Challenge curated by Eddie Moore, Jr., Debby Irving, Marguerite Penick-Parks, and Claudia A. Fox Tree (Arawak/Yurumein). The extensive guide includes dozens of resources to read, listen, and watch, along with ways to engage, reflect, and act on Indigenous racial equity.