Ben & Jerry’s National Grassroots Organizing Grant

Creating Masqewuloq

Presented by Masqewuloq Bark & Roots Society

Program Overview

The Masqewuloq Bark & Roots Society program is designed to preserve, protect, and revitalize Wabanaki traditions, language, and land based practices.

Rooted in intergenerational knowledge sharing this program offers immersive hands-on cultural education for tribal members of all ages. Through traditional arts instruction, language immersion, outdoor skills training, youth leadership development, and sustainable cultural tourism, the program ensures that ancestral knowledge is actively practiced and passed to future generations while contributing to economic development for all Wabanaki people. 

The Society will guide the development, implementation, and long term sustainability of this initiative to ensure a lasting cultural impact for future generations.

Core Program Components 

1. Traditional Arts & Land Based Instruction

Hands-on workshops and apprenticeships will revitalize and strengthen traditional Wabanaki arts including:

1. Basket making
2. Material gathering and preparation
3. Birch bark canoe building
4. Hide tanning
5. Quill work
6. Wood carving
7. Traditional paddling techniques and water safety

Each workshop integrates the Wabanaki languages immersion with language keepers speaking and teaching vocabulary throughout the learning process.

2. Youth Engagement & Leadership Development

The program will establish:

1. Youth Paddling Teams focused on traditional canoe techniques and teamwork
2. A Future Outdoor Guide Training Program rooted in traditional ecological knowledge
3. Seasonal cultural camps centered on land stewardship, survival skills, and ceremony

This component empowers youth to become cultural ambassadors and future land stewards grounded in ancestral knowledge.

3. Cultural Immersion & Traditional Space Building

The Masqewuloq Bark & Roots Society will oversee the construction of a traditional wigwam on Pine Island (Indian Township) and other Wabanaki lands serving as:

1. As ceremonial spaces
2. As language immersion environments
3. As gathering places for intergenerational teaching
4. As cultural education sites for visitors
5. As rustic campsites for tourism and economic development 

Language will be central to all gatherings reinforcing immersion through lived experience.

4. Apprenticeship & Intergenerational Mentorship

The Society will establish a structured Apprenticeship & Mentorship Program pairing:

1. Youth with elders
2. Emerging artisans and practitioners with master culture bearers
3. Outdoor trainees with experienced land stewards and guides 

This model ensures traditional knowledge is transmitted through relationship, storytelling, and hands-on practice.

5. Cultural Tourism & Sustainable Economic Development

To support economic sovereignty while protecting cultural integrity the program will develop:

1. Enhanced tribal campsites designed to reflect Wabanaki history, ecology, and land stewardship 
2. Guided traditional paddling excursions
3. Cultural workshops for visitors and educators 
4. Seasonal art exhibitions and demonstrations

A formal Outdoor Guide Training Curriculum will prepare tribal members to lead culturally respectful tourism initiatives grounded in traditional knowledge and land stewardship.

Grant Writing & Resource Development

The Masqewuloq Bark & Roots Society will:

1. Secure grant funding for curriculum development, infrastructure, and expansion
2. Develop partnerships with tribal organizations, educational institutions, land trusts, property owners, and local governments
3. Cultivate sponsorships that align with cultural preservation values
4. Build long term sustainability through diversified funding sources

Cultural Preservation & Curriculum Development

The program will implement a seasonal flexible curriculum that:

1. Integrates traditional arts with language immersion
2. Adapts to age and skill levels
3. Reflects seasonal land based activities
4. Honors ceremonial and community calendars

Intergenerational education will remain central to all programming.

Expected Program Outcomes

Youth Empowerment & Leadership

Youth gain confidence, traditional knowledge, and leadership skills grounded in culture.

Cultural Revitalization

Language and arts become integrated into daily life strengthening community identity and continuity.

Sustainable Economic Development

Cultural tourism and guide training generate revenue while honoring land and tradition.

Stronger Community Bonds

Intergenerational learning builds unity, pride, and shared responsibility.

Conclusion

The Masqewuloq Bark & Roots Society represents a transformative community centered initiative. By integrating traditional arts, land based knowledge, language immersion, youth leadership, and sustainable economic development this program ensures that Wabanaki Tribes' culture remains vibrant and accessible for generations to come.

Through strategic partnerships, dedicated grant writing, and strong community engagement the Society will cultivate a living cultural framework where tradition is not only preserved, but practiced, celebrated, and sustained.

Mission & Vision statements-

Mission: 

"To preserve and advance the intergenerational knowledge of birchbark canoe construction and bark and root arts within Wabanaki communities ensuring their continuity for future generations."

Vision: 

"To ensure the continuation of birchbark and root art among future generations of the Wabanaki Tribes guided by ancestral knowledge and respectful land stewardship."

Board Members:

   - Brenda Dana Lozada

   - Steve Cayard

   - Jason Pardilla

   - Darel Gabriel Bridges

   - Eric Otter Bacon

   - Nolan Altvater

Advisory committee:

   - Jennifer Neptune

   - Hilda Lewis

   - James Eric Francis 

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