News and Events from 2009

ACQTC Student Intern Program

Each year ACQTC selects and accepts a number of College Student interns from regional colleges and universities in the Long Water Land Sachemdom. In this program, college students work directly with our elders and members, get advice and consultation when writing research papers, a thesis or dissertation relevant to our culture and history, and get involved in hands-on projects that earn extra credits.

So, if you are a college student attending school in our region and you are interested in this program, use our Contact ACQTC page to tell us about yourself, your college, your degree plan and your interests; or send a letter with that information to:

Nov 2009: Announcing the Iron Thunderhorse Collection

Over the years the works of Iron Thunderhorse have been scattered about in private and public collections all over the USA, Canada and abroad. In the past several years ACQTC has been organizing the Iron Thunderhorse Collection of books, manuscripts, scholarly research papers, newspaper columns, feature articles, prose and poetry, arts and crafts. This collection also includes important letters to and from Iron Thunderhorse, emails from students, teachers, professors, historians etc. This collection focuses on the Algonquian culture in general with its history, language, lore and traditions while specializing in the Quinnipiac Long Water Land Nation and Wappinger-Mattabesec Confederacy in particular.

ACQTC will be selecting six (6) regional Long-Water-Land archives (Historical Societies and Universities) from Western CT and Quinnipiac University and it has chosen one other National Archives so far to begin receiving digital copies of the collection between 2010 to 2012.

For more information, see: Iron Thunderhorse Collection

Nov 2009: Beginning in 2010, Reclaiming Our Heritage and Identity series

A new SERIES of Feature Articles — exclusive to ACQTC.ORG and written by Iron Thunderhorse — will begin appearing in 2010. The Reclaiming Our Heritage and Identity series is expected to continue through at least 2012. The feature articles in this series will focus on critical issues facing the First Nations of Turtle Island in the 21st Century. A Preview of some of the subjects scheduled for this new SERIES includes the following:

• We Are Not Native Americans Or American Indians
• The Concept of “Tribe” Is Not Applicable And Must be Abolished
• Indigenous People’s Day Replaces Columbus Day
• Alcohol, Guns, Drugs and Enculturation … The Subjugation of Our Culture and Heritage
• The Renaming of Our Indigenous Nations
• Abolition of The Papal Bull Edicts of the Roman Catholic Empire Against Non-Christian Indigenous Cultures
• Atrocities Committed Against Non-Christian Indigenous Cultures, In the Free World and Behind Bars

Bring Your Own Popcorn….

Nov 2009: Coming in 2010, an ACQTC/QU Round Table Symposium

For the past year, ACQTC, faculty members at Quinnipiac University, and various local Historical Societies have been exploring different scenarios for debates, documentaries, etc. We are excited to announce our final decision.

In 2010 (dates to be determined), there will be a ROUND TABLE SYMPOSIUM. ACQTC will invite a half dozen Historical Society/Museums from Western Connecticut and Long Island, Quinnipiac University faculty and students, and Documentary-Film Departments to participate.

In this forum (we expect it to cover 2 or 3 days) very rare and unique historical documents that ACQTC has uncovered at these society and museum archives will be shared and verified. Several new CDs full of scholarly studies by Iron Thunderhorse will also be revealed for the first time with transcriptions of rare deeds, wills, and other information that proves families of the Long Water Land Nation, the Quinnipiac, continued to live and exist in Greater New Haven, eastern NY, northern NJ, etc. long after they were thought “extinct” or relocated.

Stay tuned on this webpage for more details as the specifics of this Round Table Symposium are finalized.

Nov 2009: ACQTC and Quinnipiac University

Professor Ben Page, at Quinnipiac University and ACQTC members, student interns of ACQTC, etc. have been discussing several kinds of activities for the next few semesters. A Point & Counter Point Debate between ACQTC and a Historical Society is being discussed. Professor Page has invited ACQTC elders to participate in his class “Native Americans in the American Community”, and last but by no means least, there is lots of interest in a film or documentary with assistance by the Quinnipiac University award-winning Film Department.

News of these events and projects will be posted in this section of ACQTC.ORG.

Oct 2009: Newest Thunder Clan Member Welcomed

The newest member of the ACQTC Thunder Clan, Paddaquasiz, was officially welcomed into the Long Water Land Sachemdom on Sunday, October 4th, 2009, at the ACQTC Maweomi and Festival at Hammonassett State Park.

For more information and a photo, see Paddaquasiz Newborn Protection Ceremony.

Oct 2009: Maweomi Festival

The ACQTC 2009 bi-annual Maweomi Festival at Hammonnassett was a success on the first weekend of October even though it rained on Saturday. The ACQTC Information Booth was set up, educational demonstrations (such as flintnapping) a new baby protection ceremony etc. all made this event very special.

Our relatives from Nova Scotia came and reserved a camp at the Park; Professor Ben Page of Quinnipiac University and student interns for ACQTC were there too. The sponsors of this bi-annual Festival, Friends of the Hamonnassett, proposed a formal alliance between ACQTC and Friends. ACQTC encourages and accepts their proposal. Photos of the festival will be added as soon as they arrive at the National Office.

Coming Oct 2009 --- Biannual Maweomi Gathering

The biannual ACQTC Maweomi Gathering will be celebrated this year on Saturday, October 3rd, 2009, and Sunday, October 4th, 2009, at Hammonassett State Park in Madison, CT during the 3rd Native American Festival sponsored by The Friends of Hammonassett.

For a full schedule of events and where you can view the 2007 Festival Film Link on-line please go to: www.hammonassettfestival.com

ACQTC will have several campsites reserved for out-of-state members --- including our relatives from Sable Point, Nova Scotia. Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd will be manning the ACQTC Booth at the festival as well.

See you all there! Kutchimmoke.

Sep 2009: Thanksgiving --- The Real Deal

ACQTC, Inc. gets lots of emails and correspondence about the annual holiday in America known as “THANKSGIVING”… seeking answers to hard questions.

The truth is a 2-sided coin, or a double-edged sword. There are two sides to this tale. The Puritan side and the Algonquian side. Only you can decide for yourself which version you choose to accept.

Iron Thunderhorse has compiled a small but information collection of information related to the Algonquian view of America's Thanksgiving Day, which is now available on our website: Thanksgiving - The Real Deal.

Aug 2009: NEW Aboriginal Cultural Center Opens in Nova Scotia

The ACQTC Sub-Sachemship of Nova Scotia Wampanoag at Cape Sable (formerly Sou’West Nova Mètis) have recently announced the Grand Opening of an Aboriginal Cultural Center in Barrington, Nova Scotia.

The local newspaper (Nova News Now) carried a feature article on its Grand Opening.
(see: http://www.novanewsnow.com/article-354915-Aboriginal-Cultural-Center-opens-in-Barrington.html).

Photos of this event and our relatives can be viewed in this photo gallery.

Congratulations to all our relatives in Nova Scotia for this new center. This center is one of four now in all of Nova Scotia and, like the urban indigenous community houses in major cities such as new York, Los Angeles, Indianapolis, Dallas, etc. in the lower 48 states, it will provide a central meeting place where our people can gather, pass on our ancient traditions, and do all sorts of things as a confederacy.

See you at the Fall Gathering at Hammonassett State Park in CT.

Aug 2009: The Wampano-Quiripi Complete Language Guide coming soon

ACQTC and QTC PRESS are now in the process of finalizing an agreement between ACQTC and a major distributor of language materials. Soon the Wampano-Quiripi Complete Language Guide (295 pages) will be available on CD with a new User's Guide (15 pages) from this company.

We expect to post full details on ordering this CD from our own Trading Post where there will be a direct link to the distributor, hopefully in September 2009.

So keep checking for that ANNOUNCEMENT!

Join ACQTC in preserving The Great Algonquian Trail Network

…So, it is with deep concern, regret and heartache that I must now talk about a project underway since 1995 that would erase, destroy and abandon all this history, lore and tradition for contemporary interests. It is tentatively known as the NEW ENGLAND SCENIC TRAIL. It proposes to establish 800 miles of footpaths through the heart of Connecticut into upper New England. At least former National Scenic Trails gave lip-service to our roots with the Mattabesec-Mettacomet and Metacomet-Monadunk Scenic Trails.

Please read this new article by Iron Thunderhorse discussing The Great Algonquian Trail Network and the danger to it posed by current development plans; and then do your part to preserve the Quinnipiac Legacy!

Apr 2009: Quinnipiac Elder to Talk at Faulkner's Light Brigade

Faulkner's Island is off the coast of Guilford (Menunkatuck) CT and is home to the Octagon Lighthouse which has guided mariners for many moons. Faulkner's Light Brigade is a group of folks in the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, U.S. Coast Guard and Wildlife Refuge advocates who are active in coastal ecosystems.

On Tuesday evening April 28th, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. at the Greene Community Center (32 Church Street, Guilford, CT) a program sponsored by Faulkner's Light Brigade will feature a discussion given by Gordon Fox-Running Brainerd (right), who is ACQTC's registered Agent, Bear Clan Medicine Man and Elder Sachem of the Quinnipiac Tribal Council's Totoket Band.

His talk will focus on the Quinnipiac Long Water Land culture as it relates to the rivers, estuaries and coastal ecosystems of Long Island Sound. You are cordially invited to attend.

Feb 2009: APTN Award nomination for Iron Thunderhorse

In Canada, the APTN (Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network) is a real BIG deal. The APTN has sponsored its 2009 Annual Award for Aboriginal Achievements in several categories. Among them one for "a man who has achieved many things of importance to Native Peoples."

In February 2009, several members of the Nova Scotia Cape Sable Band of Wampanoag nominated Iron Thunderhorse for his many achievements. ACQTC sincerely appreciates this nomination.

Arumshemocke.