April 24, 2016
PLYMOUTH, MA—“Our” Story: 400 Years of Wampanoag History, an educational and cultural exhibit launched in November 2014 to international acclaim, is currently on display at Pilgrim Hall Museum, where it will remain through May 30th, 2016. This traveling, multi-media exhibit is part of the Signature Events and Programs of Plymouth 400, Inc., the organization planning the international 400th anniversary commemoration of the 1620 Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony.
“Our”Story was created to bring to light key legacies of America’s earliest beginnings from the Wampanoag perspective. Told in the Native voice, this exhibit received widespread media attention since its debut for its honest and powerful approach to highlighting occurrences in indigenous history that are not commonly known but were important to the founding of Plymouth Colony and the building of America. Pilgrim Hall Museum is displaying the exhibit’s first chapter, “Captured 1614”, which examines the kidnapping of Wampanoag men six years before the arrival of the Mayflower. “This freshly articulated prequel to the Pilgrim story is essential for understanding the full scope of early Plymouth history,” noted Donna Curtin, Executive Director of Pilgrim Hall Museum. “The juxtaposition of spoken narratives from the Wampanoag perspective and the museum’s pre-eminent collection of Pilgrim possessions brings deeper meaning to both, and invites new questions about our early past.”
The creation of this exhibit aligns with Plymouth 400’s mission to create a commemoration that is historically accurate and culturally inclusive, as indigenous peoples have declined participation, or faced misrepresentation and even omission from previous anniversary events. Plymouth 400 commissioned a Native design team to create “Our”Story to ensure that the exhibit was thoroughly representative of the history of New England’s indigenous peoples. The Indian Spiritual and Cultural Training Council Inc. and SmokeSygnals Marketing and Communications conceptualized, researched, and produced “Our”Story, and members of the Mashpee Wampanoag and Aquinnah Wampanoag tribes portrayed historical figures for the exhibit.
“Our”Story was displayed at both Mashpee and Aquinnah Powwows in 2015, in addition to several museums and libraries throughout New England. It received international media attention upon its debut for telling “the story of Squanto, and the millions he represents” (Public Radio International) and for “changing Thanksgiving’s history” (The Boston Globe). For more information on this exhibit, visit www.plymouth400inc.org
About Pilgrim Hall Museum
Pilgrim Hall Museum, erected 1824, is the oldest continuously operating museum in the country. The museum’s unsurpassed collection of Pilgrim possessions connects visitors with the real life experiences of America’s earliest beginnings. From the humble doll of child passenger Mary Chilton, to the sword of Captain Myles Standish, and the well-worn Bible of Governor William Bradford, authentic objects of 17th century life offer group visitors an intimate gateway to the earliest American immigrant experience. Pilgrim Hall offers three exhibit galleries with permanent and changing exhibitions, and is open seven days a week throughout the year (except January). For more information, visit www.pilgrimhallmuseum.org.
About Plymouth 400, Inc.
Plymouth 400, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization formed to lead the planning and execution of programs and events commemorating the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony in 2020. The Plymouth 400 Anniversary will highlight the cultural contributions and American traditions that began with the interaction of the Wampanoag and English peoples, a story that significantly shaped the building of America.
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