Aquinnah, MA— The initial installment of Plymouth 400, Inc.’s first educational and cultural exhibit “Our Story- A Wampanoag History” will be displayed at the Aquinnah Cultural Center (ACC) on Martha’s Vineyard from August 5 through mid-September. The ACC will host an opening reception for the exhibit at the Cultural Center, which is located at the Edwin DeVries Vanderhoop Homestead, on August 7 at 4pm. Tickets for the opening event are $10 and are available at the door or by calling the ACC at 508-645-7900.
This installment, titled “Captured: 1614” shines a light on a 400-year-old piece of history that had a significant impact on the Wampanoag tribe, their relationship with the Mayflower Pilgrims, and the founding of Plymouth Colony, events that significantly shaped the building of America. Created by a Wampanoag design team and told from the Native perspective, this exhibit will continue its regional tour before returning to Plymouth in Fall 2015 to debut a new installation of the history of the Wampanoag tribe.
“Much of the history of the Wampanoag and all tribal nations has been mythologized, distorted, omitted, or simply erased,” said Linda Coombs, who is the Program Director at the Aquinnah Cultural Center and a Board Member of Plymouth 400. “Now that 400 years have gone by, it is time that the actual history of the indigenous peoples of this country be brought forward and acknowledged— that is the only way for all people to truly put the past in its rightful place and perspective.”
In addition to the “Our Story- A Wampanoag History” exhibit opening event on August 7, Aquinnah Cultural Center’s Annual Traditional Feast and Fundraiser will be held on August 8, 2015 at 5pm to raise money for the ACC, an Indigenous museum of the Aquinnah Wampanoag which offers events and programs highlighting Native history. Tickets for this fundraiser are $100 for adults and $40 for children. Paula Peters will speak about her research and the history behind the “Our Story—A Wampanoag History” exhibit and the Wampanoag Tribe’s involvement in the exhibit’s creation.
The Aquinnah Cultural Center is located at the Edwin DeVries Vanderhoop Homestead on the Gay Head Cliffs, 35 Aquinnah Circle, Aquinnah, MA. This restored 19th century farmstead, through tours, all exhibits, programs, and special events, relates the history and cultures of the Aquinnah Wampanoag people.
About Plymouth 400, Inc.
Plymouth 400, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization in Plymouth, Massachusetts formed to lead the planning and execution of programs and events commemorating the 400th anniversary in 2020 of the Mayflower voyage and the founding of Plymouth Colony in 1620. 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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