Last week Aquinnah proudly watched the graduations of Kayden Devine and Claus Smith from MVRHS, and Bangii-Kai Bellecourt from the M.V. Charter School. The Aquinnah Community Association awards $2,000 scholarships to every graduate that resides in Aquinnah regardless of their plans after high school, and Matt Born was there to make the presentations.
And so, summer commences. The shops on the Cliffs are open, including the Gay Head Store. The Outermost Inn is opening, showing off its new canopy and menus. And our cultural stars have dusted themselves off and are ready to shine.
The Aquinnah Cultural Center opens on June 16, presenting a new exhibit, “Maintaining Our Sovereignty.” The exhibit situates the fights of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) for federal recognition and land return in the 1970s and 1980s in the tribe’s larger history of self-determination on Nôepe. Supported by a MassHumanities grant, “Maintaining Our Sovereignty” assembles archival materials, works from Aquinnah Wampanoag artists, and oral histories to tell the story of Wampanoag political, cultural, and social mobilization. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $6 for ages 7 to 17. Tribal members and children ages 6 and under enter for free.
The annual “Howes House Art Show” will be Friday, June 19, from noon to 2 pm, and Saturday, June 20, from 9 am to 2 pm at the Up-Island Council on Aging. The show will feature watercolor paintings and cards by the Friday painters. Most of the artwork is for sale. Admission is free, and refreshments will be served.
Saturday, June 20, is going to be busy. From 4 to 6, head to the Aquinnah Circle for the Aquinnah Summer Solstice Celebration, with music from Aquinnah performers and Dave Willis and the Down Island Band, and treats from Cliffhangers, Aquila, and the Gay Head Store. The event is free and open to all, thanks to the Aquinnah Cultural Center and the Mass Cultural Council.
Then, scoot down-Island to where the Friends of the Up-Island Council on Aging are hosting an event at the P.A. Club from 5 to 8 pm, to raise funds for the council. These funds support older adult programs, the purchase of durable medical equipment, and provide Up-Island seniors with emergency financial assistance. There will be music, great food, and silent auction items.
The MassAudubon Society is still sponsoring Tyke Hikes every Saturday, from 9:30 to 10:30 am. This is a chance to skip, waddle, or walk with your littlest ones alongside a naturalist at the Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary as you explore new habitats and search for wildlife. Tyke Hikes are held on Saturdays through June 27 for families and kids aged 0 to 5 years old. Members of Mass Audubon attend for free; nonmembers pay $10 for the family. Register at massaudubon.org/felixneckprograms.
Many of us are feeling grateful for this splendid spring. BiodiversityWorks offers a chance for you to show your appreciation. They urge you to create steppingstones of habitat for wildlife and plants on your property that will help to connect and sustain populations across the Island. Whether you own or manage a quarter-acre or 40 acres, they will meet with you for free, learn about your interests, and help you identify ways you can help. They say that “small changes, such as adding a year-round water source, cover, or food plants, can transform your property into a biodiversity hot spot.” Do the trees and birds and bugs a favor and contact rcouse@biodiversityworksmv.org, 508-338-2939, for an appointment.
Without a column last week, I missed a chance to say happiest birthday to Emily Vanderhoop on June 4, Emmet Taylor on June 5, and Allen Carney on June 9.