Paula Peters facts for kids
Paula Peters is an important leader, writer, and teacher from the Wampanoag tribe. She has spent most of her life in her tribe's home area of Mashpee, Massachusetts. Her family is well-known in the Mashpee Wampanoag community; her father, Russell "Fast Turtle" Peters, was a Tribal Chairman. Paula Peters helped her tribe in their long effort to get federal recognition. This means getting the United States government to officially recognize the tribe. She also served on the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council, just like her father.
Paula Peters: A Talented Writer
Paula Peters is a skilled writer who shares important stories. In 2009, she shared her work called "Wampanoag Reflections." She has also written essays like "A Lesser-Known Atlantic Crossing" and "Epanow's Escape." Her writings have been included in books featuring Native American authors from New England. One of her pieces talks about using cultural items or ideas without permission, called "Beware: Not All Terms Are Fair Game."
Peters also wrote a book called Mashpee Nine: A Story of Cultural Justice. This book was published in 2016 by SmokeSygnals.
Teaching Native History to Others
Besides her writing, Paula Peters works to teach people about Native American history. She used to be in charge of marketing and public relations for the Wampanoag Indian Program at Plimoth Plantation. This is a living history museum.
Peters is also part of a group called Plymouth 400 Inc. This group planned events for the 400th anniversary of the Mayflower ship arriving in 1620. She makes sure that Wampanoag interests and history are included in these plans.
The "Captured: 1614" Exhibit
As part of her work, Paula Peters was a main helper and executive producer for an exhibit called "Captured: 1614." This exhibit was shown at the Plymouth Public Library in Plymouth, Massachusetts. It opened in November 2014, marking 400 years since a sad event.
The exhibit tells the story of Squanto and 19 other Wampanoag people. They were kidnapped and taken to Europe to be sold as slaves. Peters's company, Smoke Sygnals, created this exhibit. It helps people understand what happened to Native Americans before 1620. The exhibit also explains why Squanto and Samoset could talk so well with the European settlers when they arrived. Paula Peters believes this exhibit helps share the Wampanoag side of American history.
