(Above) Providence Cultural Equity Initiative Director, Ray “Two Hawks” Watson, opens the Meshanitcut Cultural Placemaking Confestival, an annual multi-day confestival based in Providence, Rhode Island ran from August 21st to 25th, 2024, featured initiatives articulated and explored at the accompanying cultural placemaking conference. The conference focused on place-making that highlighted the narratives, experiences and tradiions of cultures and cultural communities.

The conference began with remarks from dignitary remarks and Kenote Speaker United National Eminent Peace Ambassador Stephen Koko Sackey, followed by an address on Cultural Placemaking by event organizer Raymond Two Hawks Watson, Esq. Following his presentation, Pokanoket Sachem Tracey Dancing Star and Sowams Project Coordinator David Weed spoke on “Creating a New National Heritage Area in Sowams, the Homeland of the Massasoit”.

The Sachem and Dr. Weed described what National Heritage Areas can do to address cultural placemaking, detailed each of the five themes of the Sowams Project, and described how the feasibility study is being conducted that will lead to designation by the National Park Service and funding by Congress. Click here for the 45-minute video of the presentation.

Among the other presentations were one by Dr. Brian Hendrickson of Roger Williams University on “Teaching Cultural Placemaking through Community Engagement”, one by Peter Rogina on “Peace Education Acceleration Across Ethnic and Tribal Boundaries”, and one on Day Two by Dr. Silas Pinto on “G.H.O.T.I.: Relational Model to Bridging Communication.”