First Light Foundation

Name: First Light Foundation
Rating: 5

5.0

(3) 3 reviews

Services

Music Performances

Whether a follow up to our “Classroom Programs” (mileage waived when booked together), or any educational engagement, our Solo Performances feature First Light Fun for everyone.

If budget is a concern for Group Performances, Annawon Weeden will be happy to provide social dance demonstrations him self, along with audience participation.

Perfect for school groups, school wide assemblies, scout groups, birthday parties, college campuses & more.

Music

45 mins··$1,000

Let freedom drum!

Find new ways to discover the indigenous melodies of New England with our music oriented programming.

Whether offering a college course on international music from around the globe or beginning with basics for young learners to understand the meaning, symbolism or importance of music to indigenous people, FLF offers a variety of interactive programming to meet musical needs.

Explore the instruments of the region and beyond. Try out your own rhythmic response with interactive songs that engage any audience. Discover why the water drum is so important to Wampanoag & other indigenous identity. Sample diversity of music customs from all across Turtle Island by inviting FLF for musical exploration that will help shed light looking thru a lens of First Light Fun. Online options available. Please contact us for further inquiry.

Outdoor Exhibits

Mishoon (Canoe) Burn

8 hrs··$15,000

Create a unique opportunity in most outdoor settings by hosting a mishoon burn.

Sure, we all know, wood burns. Great for heating, cooking, providing light and so much more. Explore the many ways in which to harness the power of fire to create objects such as a mishoon watercraft, bowls, spoons and other crafts for any audience to take home upon completion.

Perfect for artist residencies, this ongoing activity takes a duration of time. Whether scheduled consecutively or in increments, a mishoon burn offers many opportunities for many individuals. Whether a party or private event, large or small groups, experience the efficiency of using fire as a tool in addition to group building, mentoring and many other leadership tools.

This event covers environmental education, cultural preservation, sustainability, biodegradable boat crafting, peer exercises, bond building, all of this & much more.

Materials can be supplied upon request at additional costs. Fees begin at a base rate using materials the client provides. (Instruction only/5 day minimum)

Contact us for further details.

Shelter Setup

1 hr··$500

We will gladly deliver, setup & staff an outdoor shelter while conducting various hands on activities. Experiences last lifetimes.

*Currently offering lean to style shelters, this outdoor exhibit is perfect for all natural settings and venues. Despite cold or hot climates, swift assembly of this outdoor display will leave no footprint left behind. Constructed atop any lawn or outdoor surface, create your very own natural setting and allow folks to step back in time while spending quality time with our staff.

Pull up a log and layout a fur. Play a variety of games. Feel free to explore the many artifacts on hand. Perhaps you may wish to help lend a hand, making a fishnet. Children always love walking away with corn husk action figures they can create. FLF is glad to deliver all instruction along with supplies to insure lessons that last generations.

Perfect party planning for any outdoor event: Birthdays, Graduations, Libraries, Schools, Showers, Weddings & More!

Archery, cooking/catering, wood burning & more activities/services available upon request. Feel free to inquire about all that we can do for you during your next outdoor event by contacting us for further details about our various options for outdoor exhibits. Make many moon memories.

(*Wetu/Wigwam setup coming soon!!)

Family

Daddy Duty

12 hrs··Free

Wampanoag Experience

Mishoon (Canoe) Burn

8 hrs··$15,000

Wetu Construction

23 hrs 30 mins··$20,000

Have you been struggling with how to properly present a land acknowledgment? How about a wetu! There is no more profound statement declaring the land and itrsquos culture are still here throughout New England like the prominent display of a traditional indigenous dwelling. A wetu comes with a long list of connections such as environmental, cultural, historical, educational, architectural and communal just to name a few. A traditional wetu is a perfect contemporary space for programming as well. Public participation helps bring our communities together by constructing the wetu together, whenever allowed. This is a seasonal activity that can only be: *SCHEDULED IN SPRINGTIME* (Apr/May) Tribal discounts are provided. Please contact Service Provider: Annawon Weeden for more details

Other

Classroom Program

1 hr··$375

First Light Fun Classroom Programs:

Back in session for School Season lsquo23-lsquo24!!

Geared toward meeting the needs of MA/DOE 3rd grade History & Social Science Curriculum Framework Requirements. http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/hss/final.pdf

Optional information for all grades K-12
In room class sessions of 30 students or less. Conducted in modern dress.

Students will experience Native American culture through traditional folklore while exploring tools, regalia items, furs, wampum among other cultural objects. Very hands on. Corn husk action figure making activity optional at no extra charge.

Topics include: Traditional and Contemporary tribal life ways of Native New England, survival skills, Thanksgiving, map activities, games, political structure, mascots, cultural preservation, identity workshops, hands on crafts & more.

Hourly rates for multiple class visits begin @ $375 for the initial hour. Remaining hours reduced to half price ($188/each additional hour). Mileage is currently rated at $.50/mile.

Please reserve all ideal time slots required to enjoy your days visit from FLF. We will gladly contact you to confirm further details & pricing.

First Light Flashback

45 mins··$750

Take a walk through time. Feel the sense of freedom that can only be found prior to colonization. Experience the dynamics of what it was like to take part in the first encounter of Europeans arriving to be discovered by the inhabitants of Turtle Island. Hear more from Squanto and how helpful he truly was. Witness the ferocity of an agitated King Phillip. See how slavery impacted the New England region as well as how the whaling also shaped the identity of New England tribes today.
All this and more unfolds before your eyes, dependent on audience participation. Theatrical role play, with an educational time travel experience. Duration: 30-45 minutes
Fees begin @: $375 + mileage

Professional Development

3 hrs··$150

First Light Foundation is proud to offer Professional Development for educators. Whether home school, public school, charter or private, we provide sound teaching etiquette pertaining to the study of the indigenous people of Turtle Island. Find new ways to implement native culture through arithmetic, science, social studies, literacy or any subject matter. Resources such as curriculum guides, lesson plans, worksheets, music, activities, recipes and more are made readily available to all participants. Registration fee is per person. Minimum 4 participants

Consultation

1 hr··$500

Need some assistance drafting a Land Acknowledgement, but not sure what tribe(s) are in your area? nbsp

Maybe you have land to donate or would like to grant accessibility, in the form of cultural easements, allowing indigenous artisans access to resources.

FLF is here to help.

We assist with creating events and advocacy for Indigenous Peoples Day. Help increase awareness by including us in your equity work & implementing inclusion throughout community programs including health care, environmental, all municipalities and other government agencies.

Maybe you just think itrsquos simply time for a new mascot or more awareness in your region.

FLF provides all forms of consultation for a broad array of opportunities to include indigenous representation.

Please email us with your concerns and we will gladly supply all the necessary tools you need to tackle any job.

Team

Book with Annawon Weeden: Director
Annawon Weeden: Director
With many miles on his moccasins, Annawon has traveled extensively throughout Turtle Island & beyond. Blistering cold trips to remote Alaskan villages, workshops within the desert of the southwest, performing on tropical islands such as Hawaii or Bermuda, Annawon has witnessed firsthand how other tribes maintain their sovereignty, which has reinforced his pride within his own New England native tribal roots.

With ancestry representing his Pequot & Narragansett lineage, Annawon is also an enrolled member of his mother’s Mashpee Wampanoag community of Cape Cod. Currently employed as a cultural instructor for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal government, much of his free time is spent creating indigenous art such as his wampum jewelry fashion line (First Light Fashion) or representing the indigenous voice while conducting educational programming under the label of First Light Fun.

Throughout his entire life, dedicated to visiting schools, colleges, museums, corporations, libraries, birthdays and more, Annawon has found many creative ways to educate any audience. On stage or in the classroom, his ability to share his tribal culture has been sought after by world renowned institutions. Having appeared at prestigious venues such as Smithsonian, National Geographic, Scholastic, PBS, History/Discovery Channel, Alaska Native Heritage Center, Harvard University, Tennessee Tech & many more. In addition, his cultural expertise has been called upon by such international government agencies as: Bermuda Ministry of Cultural Affairs, U.S. National Park Service, U.S. District Court & most recently his Congressional honor as culture & arts bearer for the region.

annawonw@gmail.com

Good to know

Reviews

3 reviews

Sue
·
The day Annawon visits is my favorite day of the school year. The children are engaged the entire time and learn so much from Annawon. This is such an important program for all students.
Colm
·
Annawon, as always, is such an engaging presenter. The 3rd graders were enthralled the whole hour. We needed another 10 minutes to do the corn husk dolls, but that's because the time flew as Annawon talked with the students.
Amy Lees
·
Annawon’s visit to our school is an incredible education and treat for our third graders. A very important part of our curriculum

First Light Foundation

5.0

(3) 3 reviews

Book

Monday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Wednesday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Thursday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Friday: 8 AM - 5 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed

Time zone (Eastern Standard Time)

Grow your brand with Setmore

First Light Foundation

First Light Foundation

Opening hours

Services

Music Performances

Outdoor Exhibits

Family

Wampanoag Experience

Other

Team

Annawon Weeden: Director

Reviews

Opening hours