Native American artifacts at Breakheart
Saugus Advertiser
By Mike Gaffney/mgaffney@cnc.com
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Breakheart Reservation will celebrate a part of the region's history when it hosts a Native American artifact display this weekend at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center.
According to a brochure produced by the Friends of Breakheart Reservation, evidence found at the state park suggests Native Americans once used the grounds as a campsite. Tribes living in this area often spent their summers near the coastline and moved inland during the winter for the shelter provided by the forests.
"The Saugus River provided easy access for them during these seasonal migrations," the brochure states.
For years Breakheart Reservation has highlighted Native American life with an informative display. Ed Murray, the chairman of the Friends of Breakheart Reservation's Board of Directors, said the collection of artifacts has now been beefed up considerably.
The exhibit, co-sponsored by the Department of Conservation and Recreation and the Friends of Breakheart Reservation, features a wide range of items found in and around the Saugus area that were likely used by Native Americans.
Items set for public view include arrowheads, scrapers and wampum beads that Native Americans and colonists used as a form of currency.
Murray said the wampum beads were made in Europe in either the 16th or 17th century. Wampum was a collection of small white or dark purple/black beads fashioned from shells found along the coast of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Long Island.
Visitors will also have the chance to witness Native American cooking demonstrations and listen to stories about the Native American way of life.
Additionally, Murray said an arts and crafts station would be set up where kids can make fake tomahawks and other objects. Once the tomahawks are completed youths can test their durability by throwing them at a target.
Supporters of Breakheart Reservation are always looking for ways to teach people about the importance of understanding Native American culture. In the summer of 2005, a DCR forester built a 25-foot teepee on the site and used it to explain traditional Native American customs such as sending out smoke signals to communicate.
Native American ties to Saugus are evident by just taking a look at the town seal, Murray noted. In fact, the town seal depicts Montowampate, the sachem of a local tribe in the early days, as he stands on Round Hill behind the town's Public Safety Building.
Murray encouraged all residents to stop by and get a taste of Native American history. The event is free and scheduled on Saturday, March 3 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Visitor Center.
To: breakheart1@aol.com
Cc: mgaffney@cnc.com
Sent: 3/2/07
Subject: Exhibit at Dunne Visitor Center
Dear Friends of Breakheart Reservation,
My name is Peter Sanfaçon and I am the director of the New England Anti-Mascot Coalition. We are working with communities like Saugus in an effort to provide education about stereotypes of Native American people.
I read the Saugus Advertiser story on the Native American artifacts that will be on display this weekend at the Christopher P. Dunne Visitor Center. I am disturbed by the announcement of plans for an arts & crafts station where children will be given the opportunity to make "fake tomahawks" and then throw them at targets. This is no way to teach children about Native American culture or the "Native American way of life." I respectfully ask that you reconsider this activity which is simply perpetuating the offensive stereotype that all Native people were violent and wielded tomahawks.
With the rich history of the indigenous people of New England and the plethora of Native educators in the area who are committed to teaching children, it is our hope that organizations such as yours will look for opportunities to make a difference in our communities and make a sincere effort to teach our youth about other cultures in a meaningful way.
Sincerely,
Peter Sanfaçon
New England Anti-Mascot Coalition
Framingham, MA
From: Breakheart1@aol.com
To: Peter Sanfaçon
Cc: mgaffney@cnc.com
Subject: Re: Exhibit at Dunne Visitor Center
Mr. Sanfacon,
Thank you for your comments, however misguided they may be.
I find it interesting that you zeroed in on the tomahawk craft description and did not find anything positive to say about all the other aspects of the exhibit in which Native Americans are portrayed with respect. Also, do you think there might be a faint possibility that young Native Americans practiced with "fake tomahawks" or were they just allowed to wail away at one another with the real thing?
As part of several; historical programs in which I participate at Breakheart, I always emphasize the debt we owe to Native Americans and how in some cases we treated them quite badly.
Now I have a question to ask. Is your crusade against mascots limited to Native Americans or are you against denigrating members of all ethnic groups? If you are wielding a broad brush, I am sure you are shocked and appalled by the recent Boston Celtics TV ad in which two black players ask a cartoon image of an Irishman who is the mascot of the Celtics to give them good luck. The character is one I am sure you have seen, bowler hat, vest, knee pants and buckle shoes. Have you seen many Irishmen in that outfit lately? I am sure if the two black players were eating chicken and watermelon you would be up on your pulpit again
As to the term "Fighting Irish" it is a title I take pride in. More Irish Americans have been the recipient of the Medal Of Honor than any other ethnic group. Yet we are perpetually depicted as brawling drunkards, being hauled away in "Paddy Wagons."
In closing, I would like to say that it is my opinion that if we remove all Native American symbols from our schools, we have taken yet another step to make them invisible. My high school mascot was a Native American chief, depicted respectfully, and we took great pride in what we considered the lineage of our town.
I hope you have a good weekend sir. Get out and enjoy the fresh air. You're spending too much time indoors going through newspapers for things to be offended by.
Sincerely,
Edward Murray
Chairman, Board Of Directors
The Friends Of Breakheart Reservation
To: breakheart1@aol.com
Cc: mgaffney@cnc.com
Sent: 3/2/07
Subject: Re: Exhibit at Dunne Visitor Center
Mr. Murray,
Thank you for writing. I "zeroed in" (as you put it) on the fake tomahawks for the precise reason I stated in my email: This is no way to teach children about Native American culture or the "Native American way of life." I find disingenuous your claim that you are simply teaching children about tomahawks the way that Native Americans taught their own children. You are perpetuating a stereotype. Plain and simple.
You admit that "in some cases we treated [Native American people] quite badly." Given the genocide we inflicted on Native Americans from 1492 through 1890, I contend that Native Americans were treated badly MOST of the time during that period. And we still treat them poorly today. We see them as relics of the past, people for which we collect and horde "artifacts" that we put on display for our amusement; we appropriate their culture and imagery as sports mascots and claim that we are honoring them. Mr. Murray, hundreds of thousands of Native people have been saying for forty years that they do not feel honored by these mascots. There can be no "respectful" depiction of Native culture in the context of sports entertainment. The word is "mockery."
I think a particular statement of yours says it all: "if we remove all Native American symbols from our schools, we have taken yet another step to make them invisible." Native people are NOT becoming invisible. A made-up "Indian chief" cartoon is not teaching anyone anything about real, living Native American people today. Why are there no Native American Studies programs in our high schools?
Teaching white suburban kids how to make tomahawks isn't teaching them anything useful either.
Peter Sanfaçon
From: Breakheart1@aol.com
To: Peter Sanfaçon
Subject: Re: Exhibit at Dunne Visitor Center
And you totally ignore my comments on it being OK to continue to mock the Irish. Indians good, Irish bad,
You sir, are a rebel without a clue.
The exhibit will go on tomorrow, A lot of good people put in a lot of time on it and I will not diminish their efforts over a tomahawk, or a canoe, or a head dress, which are also crafts that will be available for the kids to make while their parents learn more about what really went on in the area. Also, there will be a demonstration of cooking and how they taught the Europeans to plant crops.
Sadly, Irish Stew will not be available.
Why can't we all just get along? We forgave the Japanese and the Germans......Why not the rest of the world.....But then, what would you do with your time?
Good-bye