Come to the only 17thcentury Native American event in Massachusetts. Native People celebrate many thanksgivings throughout the year to show appreciation to the Earth and the Creator. On Saturday, June 26, Plimoth Plantation’s Wampanoag Indigenous Program (WIP) presents a very special Native event to observe the early summer moon and celebrate the first harvest of the new growing season, with Strawberry Thanksgiving. And to celebrate summer’s arrival, teachers will be admitted for free with family members receiving 50 percent off admission.
During the 17th century and beyond, strawberries, or wuttahimneash, the first fruit of the new growing season, were honored with ceremony, singing, dancing, feasting and games. Strawberry Thanksgiving, the area’s largest 17th century Native Wampanoag event, will feature mishoon, (dugout canoe) races, Native singing and dancing, an exhibition of traditional Wampanoag foods, and of course…feasting on strawberry shortcake and special strawberry dishes available at the Museum’s Patuxet café. Museum guests will be able to observe Native staff, as well as many Wampanoag community members, as they reenact this daylong celebration of thanks.
Strawberry Thanksgiving is a unique experience and an opportunity to meet the Native Wampanoag men and women whose tribe has generated a great deal interest with its receipt of Federal Recognition from the U. S. government just a few years ago. Visitors will have personal interaction with the culture that has thrived in New England for over 12,000 years. For the regular price of admission, visitors will share in the celebration of this truly beautiful family event.
Strawberry Thanksgiving Schedule Saturday, June 26th, all day
10 a.m. – Eastern singing and dancing
Traditional Northeastern songs and dances will be performed throughout the day at Wampanoag Homesite.
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Men and women’s dugout canoe races
The mishoons, or dugout canoes, which will be raced are made at The Wampanoag Homesite as part of the daily living history exhibits. They are made of logs that are hollowed out with fire then scraped to create a sturdy boat. Watch from Wampanoag Homesite or the Eel River Nature Walkway.
1 to 3 p.m. – 17th century traditional Native feast
Preparation for the re-created feast will be ongoing through out the morning. The elders will be served first and after the men are served, the women, givers of life, will partake of the food, as well. Among the foods served will be fresh strawberries, roasted fish, roast turkey, and ashcakes with strawberries. (Due to health department concerns visitors will not be able to taste Native foods at the Homesite. However specialty strawberry items, including fresh strawberry shortcake, a fresh strawberry salad and strawberry-lime chilled soup will be available at the Museum’s Patuxet Cafe).
1:30 to 3 p.m. – Interactive Wampanoag gaming and ball playing with Museum guests
3 to 4 p.m. – Eastern singing and dancing
Traditional Northeastern songs and dances, such as the Unity Dance will be performed throughout the day. Visitors participate in the traditional Duck Dance.
The Wampanoag Indigenous Program at Plimoth Plantation
The primary goal of the Wampanoag Indigenous Program is to present the Native history of the region from a Native perspective. Plimoth Plantation provides an opportunity for the public to speak with Native staff, most of who are from the indigenous Wampanoag tribe. The Native staff continues to regain/relearn not only the “forgotten New England Native histories,” but also the old, traditional skills and technologies of their ancestors.
The Wampanoag Homesite re-creates 17th-century Wampanoag life in an outdoor exhibit setting. Research supporting this site uses primary and secondary source materials of the time period, as well as oral and written history of the Wampanoag and other Native groups of the area. In addition the Wampanoag Education Outreach Program provides a variety of learning experiences led by Native Museum Teachers and can be booked through the Plimoth Plantation’s education department.
Teacher Appreciation Day
In addition to Strawberry Thanksgiving, Saturday, June 26, is also Teacher Appreciation Day and all Massachusetts Teachers are admitted for free, while family members (up to one adult and one child) receive 50 percent off admission. A teacher’s education never ends, so as summer begins teachers are invited to take a break from the kids and let Plimoth Plantation be the classroom for the day.
Experience this special celebration of Wampanoag culture and visit the museum’s sites. Teachers will meet members of Plimoth Plantation’s education staff to learn about the Museum’s educational resources, and attend free guided tours and informational sessions on topics such as “How to Get Funding for Field Trips” and “What Really Happened at the First Thanksgiving.” Each teacher will receive a free copy of the museum’s popular Teaching Thanksgiving: an Educator’s Guide to Teaching about the “First Thanksgiving” (a $19.95 value) and, on this day only, receive a 10 percent discount on all items in our shops and a 20 percent discount on educational materials.
Teacher’s Appreciation Day schedule of events:
9 am – 2 pm Teachers check-in and meet members of Plimoth Plantation’s Education Department, while learning about Plimoth Plantation’s outreach programs, as well as programs at the museum, and discover ways teachers can get funding for field trips.
11am – noon Guided tour of the English Village
1 pm – 2 pm Guided tour of the Wampanoag Homesite
2 pm – 3 pm Session: Colonial Games to Use in The Classroom
Plimoth Plantation is a 17th century living history museum located an hour south of Boston in Plymouth, (Exit 4, Route 3 south) and 20 minutes north of Cape Cod. The museum is a private, non-profit, educational institution supported by admission fees, contributions, memberships, function sales and revenue from Museum dining programs/services and museum shops. Plimoth Plantation is a Smithsonian Institution Affiliate and receives support from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, The Federal Institute of Museums and Library Services, The National Endowment for the Humanities, private foundations, corporations, and local businesses. For more information visit: www.plimoth.org.
