The Beat Goes On

Town Committee Revises Draft 

Native American Burial Ground Ordinance

The efforts to permanently protect the Ancestors at White Ash Swamp continue as deliberations on a draft Native American Burial Ground Ordinance appear to be headed toward a possible vote by the Greenfield Town Council on January 15, 2014.  

Although the draft was originally passed at the November 4 meeting of the Appointments and Ordinance Committee, concerns raised and a change in committee leadership led to a revision in the draft ordinance.  According to Councilor Marian Kelner that revision is expected to be voted on and passed by the committee on its January 13 meeting, and taken up two days later by the entire town council.

Although passage seems likely at this point, there is no guarantee.  Nolumbeka Project asks for your continued support.  Each telephone call to a town official, each letter to the editor, each personal appearance at a town meeting makes a difference.  It is possible that decades of effort may come to fruition with the new year.  

The Tragic Tale of White Ash Swamp

In the Spring and Summer of 1964, amateur archeologist George Nelson was astonished.
Originally given permission by Peter Mackin to search for Native American artifacts in Mackin's sand and gravel pit in Greenfield MA, Nelson could not have imagined what he would discover.

During the course of several months, Nelson saw the unearthing of what appeared to be Native American burials during the daily excavations for sand and gravel.  He then witnessed human skulls and skeletal remains being bulldozed into the swampy ground of White Ash Swamp across the road.  In a gruesome tale cited in Nelson's affidavit below, Native American remains were being unceremoniously dumped daily in a swamp in the project to widen Highway 2.

This began decades of effort to protect and preserve the last remaining undeveloped piece of Wissatinnewag, the ancient Native American village that spanned both sides of the Connecticut River at the Great Falls. Through the leadership of Monique Fordham and Howard Clark and the hard work of many dedicated volunteers, Friends of Wissatinnewag, a non-profit founded to purchase the land, successfully acquired 61 acres of the Mackin Property in 2001.

But now, a dozen years later, the work continues.

With Wissatinnewag now under our stewardship, Nolumbeka Project is seeking to permanently protect the remains of the Ancestors at White Ash Swamp.  In October, 2013, Nolumbeka Project Senior Researcher/Archeologist Howard Clark approached the Town of Greenfield Appointments and Ordinance Committee.  His efforts led to the passing of a draft ordinance protecting Native American burials and re-burials by the committee on November 4 with the recommendation of its passage by the Town Council.  

But, at this point, there is no guarantee.  

Originally slated to be discussed and voted on in the November 20 town council meeting, public deliberations were postponed -- and the controversy continues.  (See Nolumbeka Now, November 15).  Nolumbeka Project has now incurred significant legal expense in our efforts.   We seek the support of those interested in this attempt to prevent further desecration of the re-burials at White Ash Swamp.

Read Nelson's chilling account in his own words in the affidavit  below:

George Nelson's Affidavit:

The Beaver Moon Gathers Spirited Supporters in Turners Falls

 "If you look into the eyes of a young child, you're going to see the ancestors of the last seven generations looking back at you.  Seeing that, you need to understand that we are here today because of the prayers and the mindfulness and the choices and actions of the past seven generations.  If you then look away and look quickly back, you'll see the eyes of the yet unborn.  Seeing that, you'll be reminded that we need to be mindful, respectful and accountable to the next seven generations, that our prayers need to go out to them."

--- Joe Graveline, from his opening remarks at the Beaver Moon Gathering

Graveline and HIggiins Open Gathering (Photo by Skye Wellington)

As a group of bright eyed children gathered around Loril Moondream, a storyteller with Apache roots who operates Medicine Mammals a wildlife rehabilitation program in Wendell, you could hear drumming through the door to the Great Hall of the Discovery Center in Turners Falls.  The smell of freshly baked traditional foods and pastries filled the air along with the hum of spirited conversation.

On Saturday, November 16,  200 people from across the region came together to enjoy an array of Native American music, educational activities, food and crafts at the Beaver Moon Gathering organized by the Nolumbeka Project.  Beginning with the opening words and music of Nolumbeka Project President, Joe Graveline and Native American flute virtuoso Barry Higgins, the program included performances by Strong Oak and the Visioning B.E.A.R. Drum Singers, and the Medicine Mammal Singers.  As well as the two children's craft activities presented by MoonDream, Neill Bovaird of Wolf Tree Program demonstrated  stone tool making and firemaking to interested children and adults during the course of the day.  A number of vendors and exhibitors including French/Iroquis artist Neil Dargis and Seneca potter David Pinkham displayed their arts and information.

As well as presenting an exhibit of Native American 3 Sisters Gardening and sharing some of his own jewelry as raffle gifts, Nolumbeka Project's Howard Clark made available binders of information he had collected on the history of the controversy surrounding White Ash Swamp, the ten ace parcel in Greenfield that NP is seeking to protect.  (This information is now available at the Greenfield Public Library.)

Strong Oak and Visioning B.E.A.R. (Photo by John Furbish)

A raffle drawing for a number of beautiful gifts including a frame drum crafted by Strong Oak, and hand-crafted Native American jewelry was held as the day came to a close and the spirit of celebration drifted into the November air. 

(You will find many more photos of the event, artwork, raffle items etc., and a list of raffle winners and gifts on our Facebook Page)

Nolumbeka Project on the Air!

Nolumbeka Project President Joe Graveline met with host Paul Richmond on WMCB's "Imagine" at on Wednesday, November 20 to speak about our efforts to protect the ancestors at White Ash Swamp and the other work of the Nolumbeka Project!

If you missed it, this show will be rebroadcast: 
Tuesday, November 21 at 1 AM  WMCB on the Web!
Sunday, November 24 at 7 PM on WMCB 107.9 Greenfield and WMCB on the Web!
Monday, November 25 at 7 AM  WMCB on the Web

Joe will also be a guest on WMCB's "The Singing Wilderness with Beth Adams" this week. The show, which features Native American issues and music airs live on Thursday, November 21 at Noon on 107.9 FM Greenfield and WMCB on the Web!

You you miss it, this show will be rebroadcast:
Friday, November 22 at 12 Midnight WMCB on the Web
Sunday, November 24 at 10 PM WMCB 107.9 Greenfield and WMCB on the Web
Monday, November 25 at 10 AM WMCB on the Web

Please help us get the word out by telling your friends, posting on Facebook, etc.