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REPORT ON OUR TUESDAY NIGHT FOOD VENDING
Once again we have completed our fund raising food service at the John Powers Auction at the First Church in Sterling. Following the routine established last year our UNACC crew led by Chef Manny, plate stackers, pickle and chip puter-on-ers and sandwich makers: Mike, Roland and Katsuk, main dish server Fran, dessert makers and/or servers Mike, Sissy, Lorena, Darlene, Cindy, Pam, buyer and organizer Bob, cashiers Darlene, Barbara, and Sissy and expert pot washer Matt, we completed the three month stint of Tuesday night food making and serving. This netted UNACC a sum of $1,882.30. GOOD WORK TEAM!!!! We gave an additional $210. to the First Church for use of their kitchen.
Last year we did this fundraiser for the months of January and February. This year we were asked to do an additional month giving us 12 weeks. I can honestly say I won’t be making Shepard’s Pie again for awhile. We had a good time working together and sharing a common goal. Some us even won the bid on some Native pieces at auction.
We look forward to next year when we can put the “slow season” to good use again.
Again thanks to everyone who helped on this extended fundraiser.
Bob & Fran Gill
BIRTH NEWS
Pagosi Quayan Jerome was born on Friday, April 21, 2006 at 6:12PM. Pagosi was 7.5 lbs. and 20” long,. Her dad and mom are Jason Granberg & Crystal Jerome.
OUR GRANT
We received word on March 8, 2006 that UNACC had been awarded $5,400. from the Haymarket’s People Fund for the grant we applied for. Thank you to Jackie for all her work on this, as well as all the UNACC BOD who helped pull all the paperwork together to get this accomplished.
With help from the Grant, we were able to have a raptor display at the pow wow. The “Birds of Prey” people came out and did and amazing display on Saturday. People attending the display were thoroughly enthralled. Thank you to Pam Levesque in getting this organized. We do appreciate your efforts.
Using part of the grant money, we were able to purchase a new copier and computer for the center. This will help with creating informational documents for local organizations along with helping to keep “business” items more organized.
OTHER NEWS
Laura Novak and Jason Granberg will be part of the movie “Aftershock” that will air on the History Channel in the fall. The film was shot in Westford, Ma., in June 2006.
It is a documentary wbicb deals with post Civil War issues. Jay and Laura (just 2 cast members amongst others) portrayed Lumbee natives hiding out in the swamps to keep from being enslaved by the white supremacists. We will keep you posted as to when this film will be aired.
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A group of 22 Cub Scouts came to UNACC on April 15, 2006 for the afternoon. 4
areas were set up for them to walk thru. There was an Alaskan Native area with Lorena and Laura Novak and Jason Granberg. A Midwestern Native area with Bob and Fran Gill. A northeastern Native area with Jo Fisher and Cyndi Martin was set up in the teepee, making talking sticks with the children. 3 of the areas were set up with a basic native food from that area for the children to try. Barbara Brown and Pam Levesque also set up displays. Nugumij drummers gathered outside the building for some drumming and dancing for the boys. It was a great day of fun.
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UNACC once again took part in the Sudbury Memorial Day Parade. The parade was held on Monday, May 29, 2006. After the parade, the participants from UNACC were again invited to have lunch at the Sudbury Inn. Thank you to the Town of Sudbury for doing this for us.
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A huge thank you to Steve “Beaver” Rogers and EPIC for their generous donation of Pepsi products. We are very grateful for them.
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Kudos to Nancy Amirault for working so diligently on getting the membership in order. She has done an amazing job on it. Please check and see if your membership is up to date. A membership form is attached to this newsletter for your convenience.
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On April 23, 2006, UNACC along with the Revolving Museum in Lowell, MA held a Native American Festival at the Museum.. We had 2 drums present, Black Thunder and Nugumij. We had displays by Cyndi Martin, Bob and Fran Gill, Bob and Robin Olson, Lorena Novak along with the UNACC store. Don Barnaby and Leslie Tuplin came dressed in their beautiful regalia as well as many others. It was a small turnout but we hope next year it will be much bigger. It was a fun day. Thank you to Paul Johnson and Jerry Beck for being the 1st two people to begin to talk about making this happen and actually making it happen. A great job done!!
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On March 23, 2006, we once again participated in Ayer High School Multicultural Night.
The Nugumij Drum along with singers and rattlers did a couple of songs. Then Lorena, Laura, Nancy and a few others got the audience participation in a round dance. After, the different ethnic groups represented gave a sampling of their native foods.
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On June 7, 2006 we once again went to Westford Academy to the German Club. This has been an annual event for many, many years. Nugumij was there. The students participated in some dancing. There was a question and answer time as well. Unfortunately because of the many activities going on in the school we were not in our usual room and could put our displays out. As usual the night ended with the students singing a German song for us. It is always a great time and the exchange students from Germany were eager to learn of our heritage.
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March 2, 2006, a Bear Feast was held to awaken the bear from his long winter’s sleep. Junior Peter Paul conducted the ceremony. This year we will hold a 2-day Bear Feast on
November 11th and 12th in preparation of the bear starting his winter sleep. More news about this event will be presented as the date gets closer.
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May 20-21 was our Annual Pow Wow. On Friday night the women dug the Fire Pit. for the Sacred Fire. We had great weather both days. At night a policeman came to check on our fire. A misunderstanding was had as the policeman, not seeing a permit told fire keepers Paul and Scott that they had a cooking fire. What he was trying to do was give us an answer if another policeman came and asked what the fire was for. We will be placing next years permit in an easy to view location.
Manny did the cooking with his band of helpers and others worked the raffles and store.
Thanks to all who helped with this years PowWow.
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On June 10-11 we took part in the Woburn Pow Wow. Saturday was a wash out but Sunday was a very nice day. The fire started about 12pm. Sacred Earth Drum joined the Nugumij Drum to sing and keep the dancers dancing. Also sitting on as a drummer for Nugumij was the drum deeper of Eagle Hill Jrs. When all sat on one Drum we were jokingly called the New England Drumming Co.
As usual Manny and Co. were cooking with others selling store items. The cooking and store canopy blew over on Sunday morning giving us a little excitement. It was put back up and we all had a good day.
Thanks to everyone who helped at this PowWow
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On July 15-16 we participated in the Watertown Treaty Days Pow Wow. The weather was very hot.
We shared the weekend with a group of Revoluntiary War reinacters who had an encampment and demonstrated the life of a period encampment,.
Around 12pm Saturday the Sacred Fire was started. Sacred Earth Drum shared drumming with our own Nugumij Drum. We ended the day about 5pm.
The reinacters along with some of our Native people shared security duties on Saturday night.
Sunday was very hot.. Turtle Drum shared drumming along with Nugumij. The Watertown Treaty was read.
Thanks to Manny and Co. for again cooking, Thanks also to all who helped sell store goods and set up/tear down
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OTHER COMING EVENTS
On Tuesday, September 12th and Thursday, September 14th their will be classes to learn to make medicine bags. Each class will be limited to 10 people. The class will be from 6:30 to 9:30. Cost is $25. If interested please call soon to reserve your place. These classes are not limited to UNACC members so you can bring a friend.
We are also planning classes for shawl making, rattle and drum making. More information to follow.
PAGE 4 On August 3rd UNACC was pleased to take part in /Destination World Native
America/NewEngland Roots, A City of Lowell program highlighting Native Americans and the first European settlers music and life.
UNACC was able to be there in part because of the Haymarket Grant we received this year.
UNACC members Matt, Lorena and Laura Novak, Mathew Gray, Roland Jerome, Manny Silva and Paul Johnson along with his sister Michelle Johnson and her daughters Randi and China told stories and sang songs from 5-9pm
Thanks to all who attended.
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FALLEN HERO
CPL Paul (Nick) King USMC gave his life in Iraq while fighting for his country.
His wife is Rebecca King, his mother-in-law is Denise Gamester, his grand-mother-in-law is Sis Gamester, his aunt-in-law is Barbara Casey, all are UNACC members. On July 5, 2006 the Nugumij Drum along with many UNACC members went to the McDonough Funeral Home to pay their respects and play an Honor Song. Even though it was a night of sorrow I am sure the family took consolation from the many people that went to pay their respects for this young man that gave his life so unselfishly.
There will be a Memorial Bike Run in honor of CPL Paul (Nick) King USMC. The goal is to raise money for a Memorial Bench in his honor. It will take place on Saturday, September 23, 2006. The run will start at 10:00 am at Pub 30 Tyngsboro, Ma. and end at Pub 30. A BBQ will follow at 3:00pm. Tickets are $15.00. For more info call Denise (978) 761-003 or Sully (978) 697-0928.
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Reminder from Claire McLaughlin - I know I may sound like a broken record when it comes to the re-cycling. Doing re-cycling is part of the reason we received the Grant. If the grant sponsors did a surprise visit and found we were not keeping up with this effort to re-cycle it could jeopardize our receiving further grants. As Native people we should re-cycle as part of our everyday life even in our homes.
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MARK YOUR CALENDERS
OCTOBER 15, 2006 WILL BE UNACC’S FALL GATHERING AND POT LUCK. WEATHER PERMITTING WE WILL BE OUTSIDE IF NOT WE WILL BE IN THE CENTER. GRAND ENTRY WILL BE AT 12:00.
HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL THERE.
