Indigenous blessing, powwow dances and music highlight Mashpee Friendship Festival

Festivalgoers at Mashpee’s Friendship Festival heard a land acknowledgement and blessing from Winnie Bluegirl Johnson Graham, vice chair of the Wampanoag tribal council, before a series of cultural performances that emphasized Indigenous traditions and cross-cultural celebration. "I just ask the creator and ancestors to give thanks for all things... Help us see what is only good and help us do what is right," Johnson Graham said during her blessing.

A powwow demonstration explained the grand entry and several dance styles; Adeline Green Deer performed a traditional Ho-Chunk applique dance and Juliet Green Deer did a jingle-dress performance. The facilitator invited attendees to join a round dance as a participatory act of unity and respect for the drum circle. Organizers repeatedly cautioned festivalgoers to leave the drum alone and to show respect for regalia.

Musical performers included Kim Moberg, an award-winning singer-songwriter who introduced songs from a suite inspired by the "seven fires" prophecy and described music as a vehicle for healing and community. Candida Rose Baptista performed Cabo Verdean–influenced songs, dedicated a piece to Barbara Burggo of the Cape Verdean Museum & Cultural Center, and referenced recent cultural exchanges she took part in abroad.

The festival included family activities, nonprofit tables and volunteer recruitment pitches (including a Mills River Farm rescue and sanctuary table). Organizers described the day as an opportunity to meet neighbors, learn local histories and celebrate cultural expression; programming continued into the afternoon with DJs and a closing set from Wampronica.

Quotes and attributions in this article come from speakers identified on stage or introduced by festival emcees.