Native New England — RACHAEL CERROTTI

Phippsburg, Maine is a small town along the Kennebunk River in the southern part of midcoast Maine. It is the site of Popham Colony, the first English attempt at settling New England. This was in 1607 and 1608. The settlement did not succeed because

While visiting the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center, I met Clifford Sebastian, a member of the Pequot Tribe in Connecticut. He is the marketing and development associate for the Museum. Clifford recently returned from Standing R

Sunrise on Thanksgiving morning from the window of Foxwoods Resort Casino. Foxwoods is located in Ledyard, Connecticut on the Mashantucket Pequot Resort and Casino. In 1983, President Reagan and the US Congress enacted the Mashantucket Pequot India

In 1620, settlers landed at Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts. This place is famous or infamous, depending on which culture is telling their history. What was the beginning for some, was the beginning of the end for others.

Who will protect those who protect the water? Sarah Rashad of Western Massachusetts holds her son, Espirito, during the National Day of Mourning. She is a member of the Cherokee Nation and her husband is Mexican. This past Thanksgiving, hundreds g

Who will protect those who protect the water? Nature Boy, a man of many nations, attended the Day of Mourning. “Have you been to the Indian burial ground? Want to know where it is? You are standing on it.”  This past Thanksgiving, hundreds ga

Harsh winters are common in New England and it was the help of Native Americans that enabled the settler's survival. They welcomed trade and shared with their new neighbors their belongings, food, supplies, and most importantly, taught them the skil

Natick, Massachusetts is recognized as a former Praying Town. In the mid-1600s, Praying Towns were developed by the Puritans in New England. The purpose of these towns was to segregate certain Indian populations and convert local Native Americans to

In the winter of 1676, Christian Native Americans were moved from ‘praying towns’ in Massachusetts to Deer Island, just outside of Boston. The island was used as an internment camp and as many as 500 tribal members died of exposure and starvation; t

Who will protect those who protect the water? Khari Nelson Moran, of Boston, is Wabanaki. He is on the search to learn more about his family; he recently learned they once resided in Maine. This past Thanksgiving, hundreds gathered in Plymouth, M

Alexandra Blenis grew up in Boston. Her cultural identity exists to groups across all continents including Native American. Her mother is a mix of Cherokee, Semiole, and Cree along with Irish, Welsh, Scottish, French, German, and African. Her father

Who will protect those who protect the water? Idajovon Washington-Half Kenny comes from the Mi’kmaq Nation. She attended the Day of Mourning with her two sons. This past Thanksgiving, hundreds gathered in Plymouth, Massachusetts for the 47th Natio

"Everything on earth has a purpse, every disease an herb to cure it, and every person a mission. This is the Indian Theory of Existence." - Mourning Done (Christine Quintasker) / Photo taken in Northport, Maine

Midcoast Maine was the home to many Native Americans from New England who survived through the 1700s. This is the land where they were displaced to and there are still some reservations further North near the Canadian border. This period of history,

As indigenous tribes and their allies continue protesting against the Dakota Access Pipeline, it is imperative that we ask ourselves, ‘how did we get here?’ Native American culture existed on this continent for thousands of years before the Puritans immigrated to these lands from Europe. The tribes that lived here treasured Mother Earth and had an unwavering respect for the environment.

I began this project to stand in solidarity with the water protectors standing their ground at Standing Rock in North Dakota. For five days during the Thanksgiving holiday, I traveled around New England, visiting the places and spaces where I could learn more about Native American life. It is during this week, and this week only, that we nationally recognize that our identity is interwoven with those who lived here before us.

I am painfully aware that despite being familiar with this history, I really don't know much. This on-going project is an opportunity to explore the landscape of the northeastern part of the United States through the Native American perspective, with an intention to make portraits of individuals who are descendants of indigenous peoples.