Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Community members learn about native traditions in Brattleboro [Video]

Members of the community got a chance to learn about native traditions on Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Brattleboro. The land the town is on is natively known as Wantastegok. Members of the Elnu Abenaki tribe showed methods of traditional craftsmanship involving woodworking to produce spoons, weaving sweet grass into braids and quilling. The event also featured traditional music played by the tribe members. Community members who were present at the event said it was a great opportunity to learn. Rich Holschuh, who helped to organize the event, explained why the holiday is an important time to reflect on the lives of natives before colonization.”It’s good to be here with everyone who has ever been here and with those who are here now,” he said. “This is an outreach effort to build relationships with and expose local folks to what they may not be aware of: the history of this place.”The …