Northfield, Massachusetts' Indigenous Origins

This recorded testimonial is the account of an Indigenous resident of Northfield, Massachusetts, Joe Graveline, creating a sense of the town's pre-European history. Graveline's discourse is strongly rooted in archaeological and geological findings right around his own home and fields. He is open to the way the land itself speaks to him in the Connecticut River Valley. Here is the setting for 11,000 years of Indigenous intertribal exploration, settlement, and conquest along the vast waterway, told with animation and intimacy. Indigenous stories and memories have been long suppressed by those who spread out over these stolen lands we call New England. Isn't it the victors who always write the history? The clarity and passion of this account awakened us to new ways of thinking about New England culture and history—from an Indigenous point of view. Local Indigenous people have been reminding us that, “We are still here.” Those who left have in many cases returned. Those who never left are speaking their past, dancing the dances, singing the songs, chanting the chants and reseeding the land and culture with ancient knowledge.

A grant from the Northfield Cultural Council, a branch of the Mass Cultural Council kicked off an oral history project to gather local memory about life and times of residents of this special town on the New Hampshire border in western Massachusetts. The 350th Committee stressed the need for an in depth understanding of pre-European settlement of the Town. Massachusetts State Senator Jo Comerford has supported the project and has been particularly concerned with our recording Indigenous narratives. This pleased us and we have been thoroughly enjoying interviewing Joe Graveline and other Indigenous scholars and cultural practitioners. The Northfield 350th Anniversary Oral History project has drawn intense interest from a wide variety of residents and turned up all kinds of profound renderings of the past. Much of the work has been carried out with grit and determination from local volunteers.

Indigenous History in Northfield, Massachusetts

Shawn had a chance to interview Abenaki artist Jessica Somers. They talked about using art to share Indigenous cultures, the meaning behind cardinals, her upcoming paint night at the Pibòn (Winter) Festival, and more.

Jessica Somers on Using Art to Share Indigenous Cultures

Shawn had a chance to talk to Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki singer-songwriter Mimi O'Bonsawin. They talked about the challenges of breaking into the music industry, what it's like working with her husband Ryan Schurman, why Indigenous music & arts festivals like Minoshkite are so important, and more.

Minoshkite 2024: Mimi O'Bonsawin on Breaking Into The Music Industry and Minoshkite

PUNKS NOT DEAD AMERICA IS

LYRICS:
1…2..3..4..

Punk’s not dead, punk’s not dead

(singing)

punk’s not dead, but America is 
Nazi politicians and arrogant kids 

punks not dead, but America is 
fascist ideologies conservatives

United States doesn’t seem united to me social class, wars and stupid beliefs

these rights violations are separating nations they ruined the world for our generation

[break]

Booted us out for nationality ice raiding schools and disrupting the peace

The rich they defended through people they expended that’s why this country as we know has ended 

[singing]

Punk’s not dead punk’s not dead punk‘s not dead punks not dead!!!

PUNKS NOT DEAD BUT AMERICA IS

Elmnt FM's Shawn Allen sits down with Abenaki folk musician Mimi O'Bonsawin about playing the legendary Hugh's Room, and what she loves about Toronto.

Mimi O'Bonsawin on Playing Hugh's Room in Toronto

This site on Lake Champlain has changed significantly over the centuries. The Lamoille River once emptied here, and the location was likely a seasonal campground for the Abenaki people.  I wrote a song about it called "W8banaki Bones"

(Verse 1)
By the shores of Lake Champlain, where the waters gently flow,
The Lamoille once carved its path, centuries ago.
Beneath the earth, a story sleeps, in shadows of the past,
The Abenaki's ancient ways, their echoes meant to last.

(Chorus)
Abenaki bones, buried in the stone,
Whispers of a people, in the soil they call home.
Pottery and flint, a bead, a pipe's soft tone,
Sing the song of history, Abenaki bones.

(Verse 2)
Sand Bar's sands hold secrets deep, a camp for summer's stay,
Where trade routes crossed and fires burned, in the Abenaki way.
From Pennsylvania's quarries far, to Labrador's cold shore,
Stone flakes tell of journeys made, connections to explore.

(Chorus)
Abenaki bones, buried in the stone,
Whispers of a people, in the soil they call home.
Pottery and flint, a bead, a pipe's soft tone,
Sing the song of history, Abenaki bones.

(Bridge)
Four hundred years, or a thousand more, their spirits linger still,
In sherds of clay, in tools they shaped, with craft and sacred skill.
The UVM team digs with care, through layers of the years,
Unveiling lives and dreams and hopes, through artifacts and tears.

(Verse 3)
The marsh became a parkland green, the CCC's old fill,
Preserved the past beneath its weight, time standing soft and still.
A glass bead gleams, a pipe's faint trace, a story carved in clay,
The Abenaki's heart still beats, though centuries fade away.

(Chorus)
Abenaki bones, buried in the stone,
Whispers of a people, in the soil they call home.
Pottery and flint, a bead, a pipe's soft tone,
Sing the song of history, Abenaki bones.

(Outro)
As the diggers leave, the basin comes, the earth will shift once more,
But the Abenaki's soul remains, along Champlain's old shore.
In every flake, in every sherd, their legacy is sown,
Forever sing the song of life, Abenaki bones.

W8banaki Bones

Openings for students!  Text 413-213-5767 to get started

Wit and wisdom on race, class, the environment, community economics and local history from the Appalachian coalfields and frack fields AND the Dawnland of the Northeast USA--stories and music by the people who live here, who want to connect with YOU

Started a couple years ago around 13 - 14 years old In Salt Lake City bored out of their minds and fed up with how America is turning out, decide to grasp the feeling of 80s - 90s Punk. formed by Juston Micheal Zoubek Jr, Daniel Sosa Reyna and Karson Vern Goddard, the band is just like another one of those "WE HATE THE GOVERNMENT" punk bands you hear back then. But we also try to dive into other topics other than politics. The band would give up on making music for a while but was brought back together by a friend by the name of Gadge Matthew Alan Wall who has helped change the band entirely. He joined the band but would soon decide to part ways with the band to work on other projects he enjoyed more. Without him, Abenaki would probably fail to make something of themselves. 

"I like looking at potato images on google sometimes." - Daniel Sosa Reyna
"Me like play guitar." (Guitar playing out of tune) - Karson Vern Goddard
"I was the one who did it" (Untunes guitar) - Juston Zoubek Jr.

New tracks tagged #Abenaki