News and Events from 2008

Nov 2008: REPORT on East Rock Cleanup

The three most sacred landmarks of the Long Water Land People all exist within the center of New Haven, CT. These sites include: East Rock (Wappintumpsc), West Rock (Mautumpsc), and Sleeping Giant (Nibawin-Mogostetomp).

Our ancient Mishimayagat (Great Trail Network) established footpaths from otanoag (principal towns) to otanwioag (village sub-tribal camps) throughout our wejammoke (homeland). The oldest of all Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trails is The Quinnipiac Trail. In ancient times this trail ran from Dragon Bank (at the confluence of Mill River/East River with Quinnipiac River where it feeds into New Haven Harbor and Long island Sound). Today the Quinnipiac Trail runs from West Rock to East Rock and into the Sleeping Giant State Park and along the Quinnipiac River Wetlands Preserve.

The plans of 'Friends of the Long Water Land' have put PRIORITY status on clean-up of the painted graffiti on the surface of East Rock.

Since the 1950s painted and spray-painted initials, slogans and messages have been added to the upper section of the Giant Steps path to the summit, and the sheer rock ledges. This is a direct insult to our culture and to the public who go there regularly for walks, picnics at the summit pavilions, and for the spectacular view of New Haven from the summit of this 325 foot mountain.

For more than 50 years now one local group of New Haveners — who love and appreciate this sacred landmark — have become a valuable ally and advocate for the preservation of this area which is a 500 acre city park…East Rock Park. They are called "Friends of East Rock" and began to form after the construction of Wilbur cross High School in the 1950s. Along the banks of Mill River and across the street from College Woods Park on Orange Street a beautiful oak grove was bulldozed. Mothers took their kids here to feed a tribe of squirrels with peanuts adding to their acorn diet. Then, when I-95 ran its exit and entrance ramps along State Street and Orange Street this group was activated again as land near East Rock Park and local ball fields and the banks of the river were used for this project.

Friends of East Rock believed just as we do…enough is enough…and we are proud to report that this Site is being cleared of this graffiti. This is no easy task either. These slogans are just too offensive. The friends of the Long Water Land want to thank THE NEW HAVEN REGISTER for covering this most recent clean up project. Viewers are encouraged to read more about this at the following URL:

http://nhregister.com/articles/2008/11/10/news/a3-eastrock.txt

Nov 2008: Historical Family Reunion with our Canadian relatives

King Philip's War (AKA Pometacomet's Revolt) supposedly ended the war between the Algonquian Traditionalists and English Puritana…but repercussions have lasted 350 years as this report demonstrates. Our confederacies tried to RESIST the Puritan's religious conversion and ethnocide. Those who capitulated became 'Red Puritans' transformed at the Rev. John Elliot Praying Towns while others who resisted were killed, captured and sold into slavery or disenfranchised… banished and relocated elsewhere.

One group that was disenfranchised was a group of Wampanoag who left Massachusetts in 1754. They were joined by their relatives from the sachemships of eastern Connecticut from the Nahenatic, Narragansett and Wangunk sub-sachemships of our confederacy. They set out in mishoonashoag (dug out canoes) and hauling the travois and packs full of gear along the Mishimayagat (Great Trail network) of the Dawnland. They migrated to what the French called 'Acadia' and is known today as Nova Scotia. There near Barringer Passage our ancestors settled and continued to exist as fishermen, lobstermen, clammers, hunters, trappers and simple farmers … just as our ancestors survived from season to season.

Over the past 350 years this enclave existed in a section of southwestern Nova Scotia and were treated with the same rights as the "Metis" a term meaning mixed ancestry. They had lost their language skills, but retained their stories, traditions and skills. They too like the others throughout ACQTC were subjected to all forms of discrimination.

On the weekend of November 7th, 2008 Kirouana Paddaquahum drove from his cabin deep in the Shawangunk Mtns. of New York State and met an enclave of this band at a North Haven Hotel. From there they journeyed to the home of Fox-Running where he and White Squirrel anxiously awaited their arrival.

There they met: Chief Louise Ross; Bob Fralick, Belinda Goodwin-Collins, and her husband Christian Collins (these three elders represented Dancing Crow Cunningham); Gray Goose Ken Swim; and Garnet Purdy. (Dancing Crow is Captain of the Hunt and his wife is tribal Treasurer.)

They had a tour of East Rock, Sleeping Giant, Kuttomquosh (Thimble Islands), and Stony Creek and then headed to Jimmy's Seafood Restaurant at Savin Rock for lunch.

The following day documents, covenants, membership forms were filled out and a disc full of family tree lineage charts, (supported by birth, death and marriage certificates) was turned over to us. Traditional Gifts of TRIBUTE (a form of honoring each other) were exchanged. A hand-carved walking stick was accepted by Kirouana for his older brother Iron Thunderhorse. Kirouana had made quohog clamshell gifts each bound and containing herbs and minerals from our wejammoke that are sacred. A spiritual reunion ceremony was held overlooking the ocean at a place where the rock formation known as Paumpagussit (Old Man Guardian of the Sea) still looks out at Savin Rock Point, as each person contemplated 12,000 years of maritime traditions handed down to each of us.

Fox-Running gave the entourage a case of organic honey from his apiary and other gifts were exchanged. The Cape Sable Band of Wampanoag from Nova Scotia (formerly the Nova Scotia Metis) now have 999 registered ACQTC members and are a full Sachemship of Canada.

This increases the overall membership of ACQTC by nearly 1,000 to 2,500 members. The Nova Scotia Cape Sable Band of Wampanoag now has seven seats on the ACQTC Grand Council fire (five Stump Chiefs and 2 Long-House Pine-Tree Chiefs).

Nov 2008: Surprise Guest Speaker at SCSU's NNAHM Lecture

November is National Native American Heritage Month (NNAHM). The CT Commission on Indian Affairs Steering Committee monthly agenda includes an active report and study of all relevant events in CT to reflect the true indigenous history amd heritage of the Long Water Land's people. ACQTC may have inadvertantly contributed to this because we have been doing this now for over a decade by Setting The Record Straight from all the stereotypes, bias and prejudice created by the Puritanical Theocracy.

Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd, registered Agent of ACQTC and elder Bear Clan Sachem of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council - Totoket Band is one of the original 20-member Steering Committee members for this commission. So, naturally, he was curious to learn that Southern Connecticut State University's Multicultural Center was co-sponsoring a lecture with the New Haven Museum & Historical Society. On 11 November 2008, Benjamin Breton, Education Director of the New Haven Historical Society would give a talk in the SCSU Adanti Student Center entitled “The Quinnipiac Indians: New Haven’s First Inhabitants.”

So, Fox-Running showed up wearing his full regalia, long graying hair held back with a headband. After turning many curious heads with his surprise, unannounced visit, he listened respectfully for a few minutes. Fox-Running quickly observed that Breton's “talk” was full of misinformation and re-hashed propaganda that began with 17th century CT Puritanical Theocracy and has been perpetuated by descendants of those CT families whose wealth, power and influence on local Boards of Directors, newspapers, etc. is legendary. Fox-Running stood up, and introduced himself. He was invited up to finish this talk and he gladly seized the opportunity to Set The Record Straight. The true story of the Quinnipiac has always been excluded, because the Puritanical Theocracy does not like the truth about the ethnocide, religious conversion, land encroachment, etc. being exposed. They have a carefully manufactured propaganda to dress up CT history according to their official spin.

Ironically, Ben Breton had contacted us for information. He neglected to clearly establish just who he represents, he did not tell us about the lecture (although we already knew), and he claims to represent "The New Haven Museum and Historical Society". Well, the only New Haven Historical Society we know of and have dealt with in the past is THE NEW HAVEN COLONY HISTORICAL SOCIETY & MUSEUM at 114 Whitney Avenue. Their Board of Directors includes Doris B. Townshend and others who have deliberately distorted our history.

So we want to let the Public know how ACQTC let the cat out of the bag when we crashed their party in November. The Public does not have to listen to these same old lies and stereotypes because ACQTC has all the best sources of information about our aboriginal history, culture, language and religion. Accept no PURITAN substitutes.

Oct 2008: ACQTC at the Ward Heitmann House Museum

On October 25, 2008, from 10 TO 4, Gordon “Fox-Running” Brainerd, Curator of the Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum and ACQTC Sachem, will represent ACQTC at the Ward Heitmann House Museum in West Haven, CT, for their "Native American Day". This event, to include Native American crafts, wolves, eagles, music and food, will be at the museum's Savin Rock Conference Center. Admission is $5, children under 10 are free.

For additional information, contact Fox-Running at (203) 934-4601 or (203) 481-6533.

Arumshemocke (thank you kindly) and we hope to see you there.

Oct 2008: ACQTC at the Bartlett Arboretum's "Green Faire" REPORT

On October 4, 2008, ACQTC participated in the “Green Faire” held at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford, CT. This purpose of this event was to publicize and help educate the public to the ways of responsible living.

This new event, sponsored by Conscious Decisions was a great success. It began at 10:00 a.m. with a 'Blessing of the Earth'. Kirouana Paddaquahum, Quinnipiac Medicine Chief, and Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd, Bear Clan QTC Medicine Man, were asked to lead the blessings by the other spiritual leaders in attendance. It began with several rounds of imitating the heartbeat of our Earth Mother metanokit on Kirouana's Shaman's Drum and chanting.

ACQTC set up an information exhibition booth manned by QTC Wolf Clan Sagamore Joel Lone Wolf and Heidi White Squirrel, who signed up volunteers for the ‘Friends of the Long-Water Land’ ecosystem revitalization projects.

Holistic Health experts, alternative energy planners, and even a Disaster Preparedness demonstration by Fairfield CERT made for a very diversified and comprehensive pilot faire that will become a regular annual event, and we are helping to ensure it grows into an exemplary project the entire nation can look to for answers.

The “Green Faire Awards” were announced after the online voting at their website was finalized. The purpose is to organize and share resources, ideas and even ancient technologies (tried and true by our indigenous cultures) to act as a map of responsible living — in harmony with ALL OUR RELATIONS on Mother Earth. ACQTC plans to be a very active part in restoring THE LONG WATER LAND SACHEMDOM to a semblance of its original charm and beauty with help from these other good neighbors. We say Arumshemocke to ACQTC Member Daphne Evening Star who worked on the committee to plan and organize this first annual event.

Oct 2008: ACQTC at the Bartlett Arboretum's "Green Faire"

On October 4, 2008, ACQTC will be at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford, CT, for “The Green Faire”. This event is being held to publicize and help educate the public to the ways of responsible living.

ACQTC will have flyers and posters there, and our elders and students of Friends of the Long Water Land will talk about our work and have Sign-Up Sheets to be notified of upcoming clean-up projects for our sacred sites and waterways. You can also sign up there to volunteer for any of those clean-up projects.

For more details, use our Contact ACQTC page or call Gordon “Fox-Running” Brainerd at (203) 481-6533.

Arumshemocke (thank you kindly) and we hope to see you there.

Sep 2008: ACQTC at Quinnipiac University's "Evening of Discovery" REPORT

On September 30, 2008, from 6 to 9 pm, an “Evening of Discovery” took place at the Quinnipiac University Campus on Mt. Carmel Avenue in Hamden, CT.

Tyrone C. Black, Director of Multicultural Affairs at Quinnipiac University, invited ACQTC to share this “Evening of Discovery” with invited guests. Heddi ‘White Squirrel’ Richard, ACQTC Student coordinator talked about Plans of the ‘Friends of the Long Water Land’ in cleaning up our sacred landmarks, paths, and environmental revitalization project. (See: Coastal and Estuarine Revitalization Project article in the Maweomi, and the “East Rock Clean-Up” item in this section).

Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd, QTC Registered Agent and Bear Clan elder Sachem gave an Opening Speech entitled “Our Quinnipiac Heritage and Defending Our Rights: Ethnocide in the 21st century is alive and well in New Haven" (written by Grand Sachem Iron Thunderhorse). This encapsulated our efforts over the last decade to expose the disenfranchisement suffered by our people at the hands of the descendants of the Puritan Theocracy that founded New Haven Colony. It also outlined and displayed for public viewing a 30 page study on the Lost 1731 DEED that set aside a 50 acre reserve for our people in Waterbury that was a ruse to obtain all of the prime land that was once our 1,200 acre reservation in East Haven.

A copy of the book report written by Robert Pokras, Ph. D. about WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO THE QUINNIPIAC? was also included for viewing and is the lead paper in an upcoming CD. Iron Thunderhorse, Quinnipiac Historian, Linguist and Culture-Bearer, has written a page by page critique and exposé of this book written by Doris B. Townshend and represents the latest in a long line of acts the Townshend Family has used to discriminate against ACQTC by depriving us of our right to exist as an indigenous nation according to the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples. This critique also outlines the ways in which this family used its wealth, power, and influence (on numerous Boards of Directors) and as a philanthropic doper of vast sums of money to newspapers, historical societies and state commissions who emulate and adopt their every word.

About 200 to 250 people attended this event. Professor Ben Page, Ph.D., of the Quinnipiac University Philosophy Department was present with many students. Tyrone C. Black had many questions following the event.

Sep 2008: ACQTC at Quinnipiac University's "Evening of Discovery"

On September 30, 2008, from 6 to 9 pm, an “Evening of Discovery” will take place at the Quinnipiac University Campus on Mt. Carmel Avenue in Hamden, CT. ACQTC elders, guests, and students of Professor Ben Page’s class “Native Americans in the American Community” will participate. Professor Page and his students have worked and studied at our Quinnipiac Dawnland Museum.

White Squirrel, the Student Coordinator for the Friends of the Long Water Land, will present information and a schedule for 2008-2009 clean-up projects for East Rock, the Quinnipiac river, etc.

Gordon “Fox-Running” Brainerd will discuss ACQTC’s efforts to stop discrimination against us by CT officials and other local individuals.

For more details, use our Contact ACQTC page or call Fox-Running at (203) 481-6533.

Arumshemocke (thank you kindly) and we hope to see you there.