Tall Oak Weeden facts for kids

Everett Gardiner Weeden Jr. was also known by his traditional name, Tall Oak. He was born on September 4, 1936, and passed away on February 11, 2022. Tall Oak was an important artist, activist, and historian. He was a member of the Mashantucket Pequot and Wampanoag peoples.

Tall Oak spent his life working to help and educate about Indigenous rights. He was one of the people who started the National Day of Mourning in Plymouth, Massachusetts. When he was sixteen, Princess Red Wing gave him the name Tall Oak. She was also a famous historian from the Narragansett and Wampanoag tribes.

Early Life and Learning

Tall Oak was born in Providence, Rhode Island. He grew up there, first in North Providence and later in South Providence. When he was about eight or nine, his family moved to a public housing area.

He went to St. Michael's School. Later, he studied art at the Rhode Island School of Design. He took art classes from sixth grade all the way through high school. After graduating from Central High School, he received a special scholarship.

In 1959, Tall Oak moved to Washington County, Rhode Island. He went there to help his cousin, Princess Red Wing. She was working to start the Tomaquag Indian Museum. Tall Oak lived in Charlestown, Rhode Island until he passed away in 2022.

National Day of Mourning

In 1970, it was 350 years since the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. The governor asked Frank James, from the Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe, to give a speech. But when Frank James shared his speech, officials said it was "too strong." They would not let him give it.

This made many local Indigenous people upset. It led to the idea of the National Day of Mourning. Tall Oak and other activists, including Frank James, decided to take action. They planned a gathering in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This was where the Mayflower ship landed. A statue of Ousamequin also stands there.

Their main goal was to keep the event peaceful. They also wanted to improve relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. The first National Day of Mourning happened on Thanksgiving in 1970. About 500 Native Americans came from all over the country to support the event and hear Frank James speak.

Connecting with Bermuda

In the 1980s, Tall Oak started working on a special project. He wanted to reconnect members of the Pequot people who were spread out across the Atlantic Ocean. Many Pequots had been taken as slaves after the Pequot War in the 1600s.

On St. David's Island in Bermuda, Tall Oak helped create a committee. This group worked to learn more about the Pequot people there. They also planned a way to connect the communities in Connecticut and Bermuda. This big reconnection finally happened in 2002. Tall Oak was even featured on the cover of a book about St. David's Island.