Orleans Follows Through On Pledge To Promote Indigenous Roots

ORLEANS – “We also acknowledge with respect that we are inhabiting the traditional lands of the Nauset and Wampanoag Peoples who have always existed here. We value their roles as past, present and future guardians of this land.”

 Those words from select board member Michael Herman have preceded the public comment period of the board’s meetings in recent months. The acknowledgement is in keeping with efforts by the town to build relationships with local Tribal members to better promote and educate the public about Orleans’ Indigenous heritage.

Last October, voters at a special town meeting authorized $15,000 for “funding costs associated with awareness and educational initiatives to honor Indigenous Peoples…” Most recently, the town invited the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers to perform at the Orleans Farmers Market on Sept. 14. Visitors learned about and participated in a number of traditional Wampanoag dances in the middle of the market behind the Artist Cottages on Old Colony Way.

For Herman, who is also a vendor at the market, the event was a living example of the town’s commitment to recognizing its Native history.

 “I’ve only gotten positive responses from people,” he said. “And also of course it was Celebrate Our Waters weekend, so there was a great energy in the town. People found [the farmers market event] to be interactive and educational. I don’t know, it just felt like there was great energy.”

 The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers is made up of Tribal members in Mashpee, Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard and Herring Pond in Bourne. On its website, the group describes its members as “musicians, educators and artisans” who perform in traditional dress to people of all ages. The group performs around the region at schools and at town events such as the farmers market. 

 The group’s appearance in Orleans came following the October town meeting vote, when Herman began discussions with Tribe officials about how the town could work with the tribe to better promote and celebrate Orleans’ Indigenous roots. 

 “I’m glad the town is following through,” Herman said of the Sept, 14 event. “This is what we voted for, these kinds of initiatives around education and awareness. It was nice to see it publicly in the middle of the day on a Saturday in the middle of our town.”

 Other initiatives are also in the works, including a proposed wetu and garden on Nauset Regional Middle School property near Boland Pond, where the school has outdoor classroom space. The wetu, a domed hut, would be constructed as part of an ongoing educational program designed to teach students about the town’s Native culture with input and participation from tribe members, Herman said. A proposal and request for support is due to go before the select board soon, he said.

 At Veterans Memorial Park, meanwhile, plans are to create a memorial marker recognizing the town’s Indigenous history. The decision to place the marker at the park came out of discussion on town meeting floor in May 2023 regarding funding to make improvements at the park at Academy Place.

 Looking further ahead, Herman said “there’s been discussions” about possibly bringing forward another town meeting article seeking additional funding to further the town’s efforts to promote its Indigenous culture. The town is first focused on appropriately using the $15,000 that’s already been allocated, but he said he thinks there’s plenty of room for the town’s relationship with the tribe to continue to grow.

 “There’s a lot more that can be done, and to me this is just the beginning,” he said.