By Sadie Biehl
On Tuesday, November 23, the flag of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was raised for the first time in front of Mashpee Middle High School. A number of tribal students, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chair Brian Weeden, leaders of the Mashpee School District as well as the Town of Mashpee, and other members of the community attended to witness the raising of the flag.
The ceremony in front of MMHS was the final flag raising to take place throughout the school district, following recent parallel events in front of the Kenneth C. Coombs and Quashnet schools. The Mashpee School Committee won a prestigious national award last year recognizing the strength of its partnership with the Mashpee tribe.
On Tuesday, November 23, the flag of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe was raised for the first time in front of Mashpee Middle High School. A number of tribal students, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chair Brian Weeden, leaders of the Mashpee School District as well as the Town of Mashpee, and other members of the community attended to witness the raising of the flag.
The ceremony in front of MMHS was the final flag raising to take place throughout the school district, following recent parallel events in front of the Kenneth C. Coombs and Quashnet schools. The Mashpee School Committee won a prestigious national award last year recognizing the strength of its partnership with the Mashpee tribe.
"I believe that we can all heal together by learning together." Nicole Bartlett, Mashpee School Commitee chair.
The event last week, on the last day of school before the Thanksgiving break, opened with a drum and singing performance from members of the tribe. This song, as well as the rest of the flag raising ceremony, was live streamed to classrooms within the school.
The first speaker of the morning was Superintendent Patricia DeBoer. She emphasized that the flag is a step forward and a symbol of mutual respect between the schools and the Wampanoag tribe. Mrs. DeBoer said that “moving forward, day by day, step by step, we will do all that we can to create that community of respect and honor for our native students.”
Following her speech, Hunter Tobey, a senior at Mashpee High School, raised the American flag as the Mashpee choir sang the National Anthem. Later, the Mashpee Class of 2022 student government raised the Massachusetts flag.
The School Committee Chair Nicole Bartlett also gave a few words for the audience, telling them that the flags are a symbol of a new beginning, not the end to a journey. "I believe that we can all heal together by learning together," she said.
Mashpee High School student Amiyah Peters said a Native American prayer in the Wampanoag language for all to hear.
Chairman Brian Weeden followed her prayer with a speech thanking everyone who made the journey to having a Wampanoag flag raised at the school possible. He also spoke on the true history of Native American relationships with white settlers in America.
“We are the Wampanoag, the People of the First Light, the tribe that saved a lot of your ancestors, so that you could live here in this land of the free,” he said.
In one of the most touching moments of the ceremony, Chairman Weeden called Principle Balestracci up to present him with a gift in honor of all he has done for the Mashpee community. They gifted Mr. Balestracci with a wampum necklace in the color purple, which represents healing and royalty.
When the speeches had concluded, Mashpee High School Native students gathered by the flagpole to finally be able to raise the Wampanoag tribe flag in front of their school.
The first speaker of the morning was Superintendent Patricia DeBoer. She emphasized that the flag is a step forward and a symbol of mutual respect between the schools and the Wampanoag tribe. Mrs. DeBoer said that “moving forward, day by day, step by step, we will do all that we can to create that community of respect and honor for our native students.”
Following her speech, Hunter Tobey, a senior at Mashpee High School, raised the American flag as the Mashpee choir sang the National Anthem. Later, the Mashpee Class of 2022 student government raised the Massachusetts flag.
The School Committee Chair Nicole Bartlett also gave a few words for the audience, telling them that the flags are a symbol of a new beginning, not the end to a journey. "I believe that we can all heal together by learning together," she said.
Mashpee High School student Amiyah Peters said a Native American prayer in the Wampanoag language for all to hear.
Chairman Brian Weeden followed her prayer with a speech thanking everyone who made the journey to having a Wampanoag flag raised at the school possible. He also spoke on the true history of Native American relationships with white settlers in America.
“We are the Wampanoag, the People of the First Light, the tribe that saved a lot of your ancestors, so that you could live here in this land of the free,” he said.
In one of the most touching moments of the ceremony, Chairman Weeden called Principle Balestracci up to present him with a gift in honor of all he has done for the Mashpee community. They gifted Mr. Balestracci with a wampum necklace in the color purple, which represents healing and royalty.
When the speeches had concluded, Mashpee High School Native students gathered by the flagpole to finally be able to raise the Wampanoag tribe flag in front of their school.