PEOPLE OF THE FIRST LIGHT: THE NARRAGANSETTS (TV)
Summary
One in this documentary series about the Native
American Indians of southern New England. This edition
focuses on the Narragansett tribe of American Indians
and begins at Fort Ninigret, the original focal point of
the Narragansett nation. Narrator Steve Charleston
examines the tribe's influence throughout Rhode Island
and the influence of Chief Ninigret. Narragansett Tall
Oak explains the spirituality and power that his people
derive from the sea, noting that quahogs are vital
elements that provide both food and wampum. Wampum,
as explained by Tall Oak, has tremendous spiritual
properties, and he demonstrates how the wampum beads
are constructed from the quahog shells. Construction is
another Narragansett tradition which is passed down
through the generations. This custom is demonstrated by
Jeffrey Mars, a young member of the tribe, as he helps
his father (who is a carpenter) build a house.
Charleston then takes a look at the tradition of
Narragansett storytelling, specifically viewing the
custom as a way of passing down tradition, history, and
messages from one generation to the next. One story
mentioned is the tale of how birds acquired their songs.
Dawn Dove, a young Narragansett woman, looks at the
roles played by animals and nature in these tales.
Cascius Spears, a Narragansett adolescent, talks about
the importance of animals as he cares for chickens on
the family farm and hunts for deer with his father. And
Ella Thomas Sikatu, also of the Narragansett tribe,
shows how every part of the deer is used for the tribe's
tools, weapons, utensils, and food, and she participates
in a class that teaches Narragansett children
traditional crafts and activities.
Cataloging of this program was made possible by the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, 2000.
Details
- NETWORK: WGBY-TV (Springfield, MA) / PBS
- DATE: November 30, 1984
- RUNNING TIME: 0:28:45
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:60998
- GENRE: Documentary
- SUBJECT HEADING: Indians of North America - Rhode Island; Indians of North America - Social life and customs; Narraganset Indians; Quahogs; Story-telling; Wampum; Indigenous Peoples Collection
- SERIES RUN: WGBY (Springfield, MA) - TV series
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Dan Kain … Executive Producer
- Glenn Suprenard … Producer
- Russell Peters … Director
- Peter Toohil … Animation
- Steve Charleston … Narrator
- C. Courtenay Nostrand … Instrumentalist, Flutist
- Dawn Dove
- Mars, Jeffrey (audio i.d. only)
- Chief Ninigret
- Sikatu, Ella Thomas (audio i.d. only)
- Cascius Spears
- Tall Oak