The story of the Wampanoag tribe through poetry, jazz and an original play
Asa Peters and Michelle St. John lead a dance that got the audience involved during their performance. Photos by Bobby Grady
Asa Peters, left, Carol Wynne, middle and Siobhan Brown perform a scene from their original play “We Are the Land.”
Rochelle St. John applauds a performance.
Asa Peters performed first, playing three different pieces on his saxophone.
Diane McKinnon reflects on what she hears.
Robert Peters reads poetry and is accompanied by Asa Peters.
Asa Peters and Michelle St. John lead a dance that got the audience involved during their performance. Photos by Bobby Grady
Asa Peters, left, Carol Wynne, middle and Siobhan Brown perform a scene from their original play “We Are the Land.”
Rochelle St. John applauds a performance.
Asa Peters performed first, playing three different pieces on his saxophone.
Diane McKinnon reflects on what she hears.
Robert Peters reads poetry and is accompanied by Asa Peters.
Members of the Wampanoag tribe came to Wareham to showcase their artistic talents and to tell their story in a way it has not been told before.
On Sunday, Feb. 16, members of the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers held a performance at the First Congregational Church where they told the history of their people through song, dance, musical instruments, poetry and theater.
The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers is a group of artists from the Wampanoag tribes in Mashpee, Martha's Vineyard and Herring Pond in Bourne.
Siobhan Brown was one of the performers and explained the group travels the world doing a variety of artistic performances to tell their story and to educate audiences.
The evening began with a solo saxophone performance and a poetry reading followed by a performance of scenes from the Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers original play "We Are the Land."
"The play goes through our history in different points that are important to the Wampanoag people," said Brown. "It ends with the sharing from each individual in the play about what it means to them to be Wampanoag."
The scenes performed showed the difference in Wampanoag life before and after the pilgrims landed in Plymouth.
"It's an opportunity to tell our story that we have missed out on or people didn't pay attention," said performer Jim Peters.
He added that he wants people to take away a sense of community from the play and to understand the importance of working together.
"We are all human beings and for so many generations there has been a division and it's important that we come together to change the world for the better for future generations," he said.
Those in attendance said they were both entertained and educated by the performance.
"The performers kept me so focused and they made me think about what they went through," said Donna Dougherty. "They're telling their stories and they are so peaceful and personal but it was also enlightening."
Dougherty was at the performance with her friend Sherry Pike who shared similar feelings.
"You don't know the customs until you actually see them," said Pike. "I just loved to watch them dance and I thought it was all very fascinating."
The evening of storytelling concluded with performances of Wampanoag dances and songs that got the audience involved.
Brown explained the play is many years in the making and is set to be performed at the Tilden Art Center at Cape Cod Community College April, 29, 30 and May 1.
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