2019 Traditional Knowledge Scholarship—Kerri Helme
We are honored Kerri Helme will join us at 2019 in New Hampshire. She is a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal nation. She is a weaver, potter, quillwork artist and a speaker of the Wampanoag language. She serves as the Plimoth Plantation Guest Service and Cultural Programs Manager. She has partnered with NOAA and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute to run a camp for tribal youth to learn about cleaning and protecting coastal bays. One of the concerns is that pollution in the bay is causing the Quahogs to go extinct. Quahogs are important resources for the Wampanoag both spiritually and as a foodways. In addition the pollution is also killing the eel grass, a vital habitat. She looks forward to sharing Wampanoag techniques concerning the preservation of our coastline and the important archeological site that is now covered by the sea at the Traditional Knowledge committee meeting on Monday afternoon, 4 – 4:45 pm. You can find out more about the Wamponoag Homesite at Plimoth Plantation at https://www.plimoth.org/what-see-do/wampanoag-homesite