Wampanoag Celebrations in Winter Story

Opening Discussion

Ask your students if they do things differently in winter than they do in the summer or the fall. Are there particular foods or activities that seem special to the time of year? What holidays do they celebrate or know about? What do they do in the winter that they can’t or don’t do in other seasons of the year, whether or not they live in a cold climate? In Native American cultures in the northern parts of the United States, winter presents both challenges and opportunities. Here is a story about winter by a member of the Wampanoag nation.

The Challenge

Listen to this story and learn more about the Wampanoag people!

Doing the Activity

Annawon Weeden has shared some of the important Wampanoag celebrations and activities in winter for you to read with your students.

“Hunting and Giveaways” by Annawon Weeden, Mashpee Wampanoag

Hunting is a critical part of the winter season here in the New England region. Although hunting is done throughout the year, winter hunting demands even more from us. It was critical that the Wampanoag family had not only enough food to eat, but also warm clothing, materials and tools to make preparations for the following year. The sacrifice of our four-legged and winged relatives allowed us to eat well and flourish. This sacrifice connects the people to that which they are hunting. Native people see the hunt not only as a way of providing for their families, but also as a life being taken so that theirs can continue. This understanding dates back thousands of years.

Traditionally winter was also a time of year when people gathered together, and lived communally, collectively rather than independently. With the hardships the New England weather brings, it was critical that people helped each other, saw that all made it through such a demanding time of year, and made sure that all members of a community had what they needed. Whether through gambling games, which is a good way of spreading material wealth, offering a portion of what you had from a hunt to others or distributing goods in giveaways, people shared and watched out for the welfare of everyone, especially that of widows and elders. Most of the responsibility for ensuring the well-being of all fell on the “sachem” or leader of the community.

Winter is also a time of passing on the oral traditions, which is a gift in itself. And winter sees pot-luck socials, wild game dinners and other winter gatherings which are still celebrated throughout the various modern day Wampanoag communities. These gatherings explore essential practices and beliefs such as the connection between the hunter and the hunted, the importance of offering any excess to those who are without, and the significance of oral tradition. Each of these celebrations is an occasion of Thanksgiving for all that we enjoy during this time of year.

Let’s Talk About It

After your students have heard the story, have a quick discussion with them. What do they think it is like in a Wampanoag community in the winter? Does it sound the same or different from what it is like in their community? You may want to point out to your students that members of the Wampanoag community today live just like the children in your afterschool—people live in houses, children go to school, etc. This discussion should last no more than 5 minutes.

Build On What They Talked About

Have your students list their favorite things to do in the winter. Ask your students about some of the activities and celebrations they associate with winter. Then, try the activity Hubbub.