{"id":44594,"date":"2010-04-29T09:00:08","date_gmt":"2010-04-29T13:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"\/gazette\/?p=44594"},"modified":"2010-04-29T09:00:08","modified_gmt":"2010-04-29T13:00:08","slug":"building-on-tradition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2010\/04\/building-on-tradition\/","title":{"rendered":"Building on tradition"},"content":{"rendered":"<header\n\tclass=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-article-header alignfull article-header is-style-square has-light-background has-colored-heading\"\n\tstyle=\" \"\n>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__content\">\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"article-header__category\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/arts-humanities\/\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\tArts &amp; Culture\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading has-large-text\">\n\t\tBuilding on tradition\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tAlvin Powell\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2010-04-29\">\n\t\t\tApril 29, 2010\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t4 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tHarvard students build a traditional wetu using poles and bark\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t<p>For the first time in more than three centuries, a Native American home stands in Harvard Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Over three days, a group of Harvard students built a traditional Wampanoag home, called a wetu, near the site of <a href=\"\/gazette\/story\/2009\/12\/indian-college-foundation\/\">Harvard\u2019s Indian College<\/a>, one of the first buildings on campus, constructed to house students from nearby tribes.<\/p>\n<p>The structure, of a size that might have housed a small family, was built of traditional materials: long, thin poles lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. It was left unfinished on one side to let passersby view its interior.<\/p>\n<p>Kelsey Leonard, a senior and member of Long Island\u2019s Shinnecock tribe, said the project was conceived as a way to commemorate the 360th anniversary of Harvard\u2019s 1650 charter, which dedicated the institution to the education of English and Indian youth alike.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Leonard said, the project was also intended to commemorate the Indian College, built in 1655, the foundation of which was uncovered last fall by an archaeology class digging in the Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard was joined by other members of the student group Native Americans at Harvard College in the effort. She said the work, which included stripping bark from the thin poles, was sometimes tedious, but \u201ctherapeutic.\u201d The students labored in shifts, trading off tasks as they left to attend class.<\/p>\n<p>College administrators and officials at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peabody.harvard.edu\/\">Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology<\/a>, who took a lead role in the Yard dig that unearthed the Indian College\u2019s foundation, said that though they handled some of the logistical necessities, the project was largely student conceived and run.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard said that Harvard\u2019s first Native American students were part of a cultural exchange between the English settlers and the local tribes as the two groups sought to understand each other better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to find a way to continue that exchange, so we\u2019re building the first wetu in Harvard Yard,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very good experience, very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The wetu will stand in the Yard through Arts First weekend and be dismantled on May 3.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany Smalley, a junior and Aquinnah Wampanoag who co-directed the project with Leonard, said during the wetu\u2019s opening ceremony April 22 that the project has made her optimistic about the future of Native Americans at Harvard and helped her understand a little more about her own native culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m learning more and more how to honor my ancestors and how to honor [specific] spaces,\u201d Smalley said.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu was constructed with help from the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Gay Head, based on Martha\u2019s Vineyard. Tribal council member Jonathan Perry directed the construction, providing traditional materials.<\/p>\n<p>Perry, who has worked on constructing traditional structures like wetus and dugout canoes for several years, said traditional wetus varied widely in size. The largest could stretch 200 feet and be 40 feet wide. Building them was typically a community effort, done by men. But women owned the structures in their matrilinear culture, with a man moving to a woman\u2019s wetu after marriage, Perry said. The frame was typically constructed of cedar saplings, which are insect- and rot-resistant and considered a sacred wood. The floor was white sand. The thick outer bark sheathing of the structure was typically taken from chestnut and elm trees \u2014 giants of the New England forest that today have been devastated by disease. For the Yard\u2019s wetu, Perry provided bark from poplar trees.<\/p>\n<p>Because native people moved with the seasons, families often owned two homes, Perry said. Because they spent most of their time outdoors, homes were relatively small, providing protected space for sleeping and shelter from harsh weather.<\/p>\n<p>To honor those people, students began construction with a ceremony acknowledging the native people who lived there.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu \u201cis significant because of the fact that this place for thousands and thousands of years was home to many native people,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-image-carousel alignfull carousel carousel--images\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"carousel__heading wp-block-heading\" id=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\">\n\t\t\t<span>Building a wetu<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/span>\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\" class=\"carousel__wrapper splide\"><div class=\"carousel__track splide__track\"><div class=\"carousel__list splide__list\">\n\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Home stretch\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Home stretch<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Mike Veino &#8217;13 (left) and Tommy Miller &#8217;11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a &#8220;wetu,&#8221; in Harvard Yard. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Knifework\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Knifework<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tiffany Smalley &#8217;11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tree house\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Tree house<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hatchet job\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Hatchet job<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tommy Miller &#8217;11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ties that bind\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Ties that bind<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it&#8217;s used to fasten the the wetu together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Welcome home\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Welcome home<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\r\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Wampanoag home, called a wetu, is built on the site of Harvard\u2019s Indian College.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":105622744,"featured_media":44793,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gz_ga_pageviews":13,"gz_ga_lastupdated":"2016-11-23 04:39","document_color_palette":null,"author":"Alvin Powell","affiliation":"Harvard Staff Writer","_category_override":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1360],"tags":[2476,4629,4660,6975,16262,17821,19844,20614,25172,25179,27077,33935,35525,35764],"gazette-formats":[],"series":[],"class_list":["post-44594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-arts-humanities","tag-1650-charter","tag-aquinnah-wampanoag-of-gay-head","tag-archaeology","tag-campus","tag-harvard-yard","tag-indian-college","tag-jonathan-perry","tag-kelsey-leonard","tag-native-american","tag-native-americans-at-harvard-college","tag-peabody-museum-of-archaeology-and-ethnology","tag-tiffany-smalley","tag-wampanoag","tag-wetu"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.0 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Building on tradition &#8212; 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Culture\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\t<h1 class=\"article-header__title wp-block-heading has-large-text\">\n\t\tBuilding on tradition\t<\/h1>\n\n\t\n\t\n\t<div class=\"article-header__meta\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-post-author\">\n\t\t\t<address class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"author wp-block-post-author__name\">\n\t\tAlvin Powell\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-post-author__byline\">\n\t\t\tHarvard Staff Writer\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/address>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<time class=\"article-header__date\" datetime=\"2010-04-29\">\n\t\t\tApril 29, 2010\t\t<\/time>\n\n\t\t<span class=\"article-header__reading-time\">\n\t\t\t4 min read\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-header__subheading wp-block-heading\">\n\t\t\tHarvard students build a traditional wetu using poles and bark\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\n<\/header>\n"},"2":{"blockName":"core\/group","attrs":{"templateLock":false,"metadata":{"name":"Article content"},"align":"wide","layout":{"type":"constrained","justifyContent":"center"},"tagName":"div","lock":[],"className":"","style":[],"backgroundColor":"","textColor":"","gradient":"","fontSize":"","fontFamily":"","borderColor":"","ariaLabel":"","anchor":""},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n\t\t<p>For the first time in more than three centuries, a Native American home stands in Harvard Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Over three days, a group of Harvard students built a traditional Wampanoag home, called a wetu, near the site of <a href=\"\/gazette\/story\/2009\/12\/indian-college-foundation\/\">Harvard\u2019s Indian College<\/a>, one of the first buildings on campus, constructed to house students from nearby tribes.<\/p>\n<p>The structure, of a size that might have housed a small family, was built of traditional materials: long, thin poles lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. It was left unfinished on one side to let passersby view its interior.<\/p>\n<p>Kelsey Leonard, a senior and member of Long Island\u2019s Shinnecock tribe, said the project was conceived as a way to commemorate the 360th anniversary of Harvard\u2019s 1650 charter, which dedicated the institution to the education of English and Indian youth alike.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Leonard said, the project was also intended to commemorate the Indian College, built in 1655, the foundation of which was uncovered last fall by an archaeology class digging in the Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard was joined by other members of the student group Native Americans at Harvard College in the effort. She said the work, which included stripping bark from the thin poles, was sometimes tedious, but \u201ctherapeutic.\u201d The students labored in shifts, trading off tasks as they left to attend class.<\/p>\n<p>College administrators and officials at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peabody.harvard.edu\/\">Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology<\/a>, who took a lead role in the Yard dig that unearthed the Indian College\u2019s foundation, said that though they handled some of the logistical necessities, the project was largely student conceived and run.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard said that Harvard\u2019s first Native American students were part of a cultural exchange between the English settlers and the local tribes as the two groups sought to understand each other better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to find a way to continue that exchange, so we\u2019re building the first wetu in Harvard Yard,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very good experience, very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The wetu will stand in the Yard through Arts First weekend and be dismantled on May 3.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany Smalley, a junior and Aquinnah Wampanoag who co-directed the project with Leonard, said during the wetu\u2019s opening ceremony April 22 that the project has made her optimistic about the future of Native Americans at Harvard and helped her understand a little more about her own native culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m learning more and more how to honor my ancestors and how to honor [specific] spaces,\u201d Smalley said.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu was constructed with help from the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Gay Head, based on Martha\u2019s Vineyard. Tribal council member Jonathan Perry directed the construction, providing traditional materials.<\/p>\n<p>Perry, who has worked on constructing traditional structures like wetus and dugout canoes for several years, said traditional wetus varied widely in size. The largest could stretch 200 feet and be 40 feet wide. Building them was typically a community effort, done by men. But women owned the structures in their matrilinear culture, with a man moving to a woman\u2019s wetu after marriage, Perry said. The frame was typically constructed of cedar saplings, which are insect- and rot-resistant and considered a sacred wood. The floor was white sand. The thick outer bark sheathing of the structure was typically taken from chestnut and elm trees \u2014 giants of the New England forest that today have been devastated by disease. For the Yard\u2019s wetu, Perry provided bark from poplar trees.<\/p>\n<p>Because native people moved with the seasons, families often owned two homes, Perry said. Because they spent most of their time outdoors, homes were relatively small, providing protected space for sleeping and shelter from harsh weather.<\/p>\n<p>To honor those people, students began construction with a ceremony acknowledging the native people who lived there.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu \u201cis significant because of the fact that this place for thousands and thousands of years was home to many native people,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n","innerContent":["\n\t\t<p>For the first time in more than three centuries, a Native American home stands in Harvard Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Over three days, a group of Harvard students built a traditional Wampanoag home, called a wetu, near the site of <a href=\"\/gazette\/story\/2009\/12\/indian-college-foundation\/\">Harvard\u2019s Indian College<\/a>, one of the first buildings on campus, constructed to house students from nearby tribes.<\/p>\n<p>The structure, of a size that might have housed a small family, was built of traditional materials: long, thin poles lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. It was left unfinished on one side to let passersby view its interior.<\/p>\n<p>Kelsey Leonard, a senior and member of Long Island\u2019s Shinnecock tribe, said the project was conceived as a way to commemorate the 360th anniversary of Harvard\u2019s 1650 charter, which dedicated the institution to the education of English and Indian youth alike.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Leonard said, the project was also intended to commemorate the Indian College, built in 1655, the foundation of which was uncovered last fall by an archaeology class digging in the Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard was joined by other members of the student group Native Americans at Harvard College in the effort. She said the work, which included stripping bark from the thin poles, was sometimes tedious, but \u201ctherapeutic.\u201d The students labored in shifts, trading off tasks as they left to attend class.<\/p>\n<p>College administrators and officials at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peabody.harvard.edu\/\">Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology<\/a>, who took a lead role in the Yard dig that unearthed the Indian College\u2019s foundation, said that though they handled some of the logistical necessities, the project was largely student conceived and run.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard said that Harvard\u2019s first Native American students were part of a cultural exchange between the English settlers and the local tribes as the two groups sought to understand each other better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to find a way to continue that exchange, so we\u2019re building the first wetu in Harvard Yard,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very good experience, very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The wetu will stand in the Yard through Arts First weekend and be dismantled on May 3.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany Smalley, a junior and Aquinnah Wampanoag who co-directed the project with Leonard, said during the wetu\u2019s opening ceremony April 22 that the project has made her optimistic about the future of Native Americans at Harvard and helped her understand a little more about her own native culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m learning more and more how to honor my ancestors and how to honor [specific] spaces,\u201d Smalley said.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu was constructed with help from the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Gay Head, based on Martha\u2019s Vineyard. Tribal council member Jonathan Perry directed the construction, providing traditional materials.<\/p>\n<p>Perry, who has worked on constructing traditional structures like wetus and dugout canoes for several years, said traditional wetus varied widely in size. The largest could stretch 200 feet and be 40 feet wide. Building them was typically a community effort, done by men. But women owned the structures in their matrilinear culture, with a man moving to a woman\u2019s wetu after marriage, Perry said. The frame was typically constructed of cedar saplings, which are insect- and rot-resistant and considered a sacred wood. The floor was white sand. The thick outer bark sheathing of the structure was typically taken from chestnut and elm trees \u2014 giants of the New England forest that today have been devastated by disease. For the Yard\u2019s wetu, Perry provided bark from poplar trees.<\/p>\n<p>Because native people moved with the seasons, families often owned two homes, Perry said. Because they spent most of their time outdoors, homes were relatively small, providing protected space for sleeping and shelter from harsh weather.<\/p>\n<p>To honor those people, students began construction with a ceremony acknowledging the native people who lived there.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu \u201cis significant because of the fact that this place for thousands and thousands of years was home to many native people,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n"],"rendered":"\n\t\t<p>For the first time in more than three centuries, a Native American home stands in Harvard Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Over three days, a group of Harvard students built a traditional Wampanoag home, called a wetu, near the site of <a href=\"\/gazette\/story\/2009\/12\/indian-college-foundation\/\">Harvard\u2019s Indian College<\/a>, one of the first buildings on campus, constructed to house students from nearby tribes.<\/p>\n<p>The structure, of a size that might have housed a small family, was built of traditional materials: long, thin poles lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. It was left unfinished on one side to let passersby view its interior.<\/p>\n<p>Kelsey Leonard, a senior and member of Long Island\u2019s Shinnecock tribe, said the project was conceived as a way to commemorate the 360th anniversary of Harvard\u2019s 1650 charter, which dedicated the institution to the education of English and Indian youth alike.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Leonard said, the project was also intended to commemorate the Indian College, built in 1655, the foundation of which was uncovered last fall by an archaeology class digging in the Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard was joined by other members of the student group Native Americans at Harvard College in the effort. She said the work, which included stripping bark from the thin poles, was sometimes tedious, but \u201ctherapeutic.\u201d The students labored in shifts, trading off tasks as they left to attend class.<\/p>\n<p>College administrators and officials at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peabody.harvard.edu\/\">Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology<\/a>, who took a lead role in the Yard dig that unearthed the Indian College\u2019s foundation, said that though they handled some of the logistical necessities, the project was largely student conceived and run.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard said that Harvard\u2019s first Native American students were part of a cultural exchange between the English settlers and the local tribes as the two groups sought to understand each other better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to find a way to continue that exchange, so we\u2019re building the first wetu in Harvard Yard,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very good experience, very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The wetu will stand in the Yard through Arts First weekend and be dismantled on May 3.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany Smalley, a junior and Aquinnah Wampanoag who co-directed the project with Leonard, said during the wetu\u2019s opening ceremony April 22 that the project has made her optimistic about the future of Native Americans at Harvard and helped her understand a little more about her own native culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m learning more and more how to honor my ancestors and how to honor [specific] spaces,\u201d Smalley said.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu was constructed with help from the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Gay Head, based on Martha\u2019s Vineyard. Tribal council member Jonathan Perry directed the construction, providing traditional materials.<\/p>\n<p>Perry, who has worked on constructing traditional structures like wetus and dugout canoes for several years, said traditional wetus varied widely in size. The largest could stretch 200 feet and be 40 feet wide. Building them was typically a community effort, done by men. But women owned the structures in their matrilinear culture, with a man moving to a woman\u2019s wetu after marriage, Perry said. The frame was typically constructed of cedar saplings, which are insect- and rot-resistant and considered a sacred wood. The floor was white sand. The thick outer bark sheathing of the structure was typically taken from chestnut and elm trees \u2014 giants of the New England forest that today have been devastated by disease. For the Yard\u2019s wetu, Perry provided bark from poplar trees.<\/p>\n<p>Because native people moved with the seasons, families often owned two homes, Perry said. Because they spent most of their time outdoors, homes were relatively small, providing protected space for sleeping and shelter from harsh weather.<\/p>\n<p>To honor those people, students began construction with a ceremony acknowledging the native people who lived there.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu \u201cis significant because of the fact that this place for thousands and thousands of years was home to many native people,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/image-carousel","attrs":{"heading":"Building a wetu","caption":"Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer","id":"bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd","headingHidden":false,"layout":"image-carousel","showNumbers":false,"stretch":false,"lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":"","style":[]},"innerBlocks":[{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/carousel-slide","attrs":{"creditText":"Mike Veino '13 (left) and Tommy Miller '11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a \"wetu,\" in Harvard Yard. ","mediaAlt":"Home stretch","mediaCaption":"Home stretch","mediaId":"44561","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg","mediaHeight":"334","mediaSize":"wide-auto","mediaWidth":"500","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Home stretch\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Home stretch<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Mike Veino '13 (left) and Tommy Miller '11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a \"wetu,\" in Harvard Yard. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Home stretch\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Home stretch<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Mike Veino '13 (left) and Tommy Miller '11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a \"wetu,\" in Harvard Yard. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Home stretch\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Home stretch<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Mike Veino '13 (left) and Tommy Miller '11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a \"wetu,\" in Harvard Yard. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/carousel-slide","attrs":{"creditText":"Tiffany Smalley '11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. ","mediaAlt":"Knifework","mediaCaption":"Knifework","mediaId":"44560","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg","mediaHeight":"334","mediaSize":"wide-auto","mediaWidth":"500","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Knifework\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Knifework<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tiffany Smalley '11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Knifework\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Knifework<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tiffany Smalley '11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Knifework\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Knifework<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tiffany Smalley '11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/carousel-slide","attrs":{"creditText":"Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.","mediaAlt":"Tree house","mediaCaption":"Tree house","mediaId":"44562","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg","mediaHeight":"334","mediaSize":"wide-auto","mediaWidth":"500","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Tree house\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Tree house<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Tree house\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Tree house<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Tree house\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Tree house<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/carousel-slide","attrs":{"creditText":"Tommy Miller '11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n ","mediaAlt":"Hatchet job","mediaCaption":"Hatchet job","mediaId":"44559","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg","mediaHeight":"334","mediaSize":"wide-auto","mediaWidth":"500","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Hatchet job\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Hatchet job<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tommy Miller '11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Hatchet job\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Hatchet job<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tommy Miller '11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Hatchet job\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Hatchet job<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tommy Miller '11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/carousel-slide","attrs":{"creditText":"Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it's used to fasten the the wetu together.","mediaAlt":"Ties that bind","mediaCaption":"Ties that bind","mediaId":"44563","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg","mediaHeight":"334","mediaSize":"wide-auto","mediaWidth":"500","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Ties that bind\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Ties that bind<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it's used to fasten the the wetu together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Ties that bind\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Ties that bind<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it's used to fasten the the wetu together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Ties that bind\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Ties that bind<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it's used to fasten the the wetu together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"},{"blockName":"harvard-gazette\/carousel-slide","attrs":{"creditText":"The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.","mediaAlt":"Welcome home","mediaCaption":"Welcome home","mediaId":"44564","mediaType":"image","mediaUrl":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg","mediaHeight":"334","mediaSize":"wide-auto","mediaWidth":"500","lock":[],"metadata":[],"className":""},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Welcome home\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Welcome home<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n","innerContent":["\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Welcome home\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Welcome home<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"],"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Welcome home\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Welcome home<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-image-carousel alignfull carousel carousel--images\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"carousel__heading wp-block-heading\" id=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\">\n\t\t\t<span>Building a wetu<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/span>\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\" class=\"carousel__wrapper splide\"><div class=\"carousel__track splide__track\"><div class=\"carousel__list splide__list\">\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n","innerContent":["\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-image-carousel alignfull carousel carousel--images\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"carousel__heading wp-block-heading\" id=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\">\n\t\t\t<span>Building a wetu<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/span>\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\" class=\"carousel__wrapper splide\"><div class=\"carousel__track splide__track\"><div class=\"carousel__list splide__list\">\n\t","\n","\n","\n","\n","\n","\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n"],"rendered":"\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-image-carousel alignfull carousel carousel--images\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"carousel__heading wp-block-heading\" id=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\">\n\t\t\t<span>Building a wetu<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/span>\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\" class=\"carousel__wrapper splide\"><div class=\"carousel__track splide__track\"><div class=\"carousel__list splide__list\">\n\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Home stretch\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Home stretch<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Mike Veino '13 (left) and Tommy Miller '11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a \"wetu,\" in Harvard Yard. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Knifework\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Knifework<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tiffany Smalley '11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Tree house\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Tree house<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Hatchet job\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Hatchet job<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tommy Miller '11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Ties that bind\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Ties that bind<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it's used to fasten the the wetu together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Welcome home\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Welcome home<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n"},{"blockName":"core\/freeform","attrs":{"content":"","lock":[],"metadata":[]},"innerBlocks":[],"innerHTML":"\n","innerContent":["\n"],"rendered":"\n"}],"innerHTML":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n\r\n\t\n\r\n\n\n<\/div>\n","innerContent":["\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide\">\n\n","\r\n\t","\n\r\n","\n\n<\/div>\n"],"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-center is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n\n\n\t\t<p>For the first time in more than three centuries, a Native American home stands in Harvard Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Over three days, a group of Harvard students built a traditional Wampanoag home, called a wetu, near the site of <a href=\"\/gazette\/story\/2009\/12\/indian-college-foundation\/\">Harvard\u2019s Indian College<\/a>, one of the first buildings on campus, constructed to house students from nearby tribes.<\/p>\n<p>The structure, of a size that might have housed a small family, was built of traditional materials: long, thin poles lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. It was left unfinished on one side to let passersby view its interior.<\/p>\n<p>Kelsey Leonard, a senior and member of Long Island\u2019s Shinnecock tribe, said the project was conceived as a way to commemorate the 360th anniversary of Harvard\u2019s 1650 charter, which dedicated the institution to the education of English and Indian youth alike.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Leonard said, the project was also intended to commemorate the Indian College, built in 1655, the foundation of which was uncovered last fall by an archaeology class digging in the Yard.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard was joined by other members of the student group Native Americans at Harvard College in the effort. She said the work, which included stripping bark from the thin poles, was sometimes tedious, but \u201ctherapeutic.\u201d The students labored in shifts, trading off tasks as they left to attend class.<\/p>\n<p>College administrators and officials at the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.peabody.harvard.edu\/\">Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology<\/a>, who took a lead role in the Yard dig that unearthed the Indian College\u2019s foundation, said that though they handled some of the logistical necessities, the project was largely student conceived and run.<\/p>\n<p>Leonard said that Harvard\u2019s first Native American students were part of a cultural exchange between the English settlers and the local tribes as the two groups sought to understand each other better.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to find a way to continue that exchange, so we\u2019re building the first wetu in Harvard Yard,\u201d Leonard said. \u201cIt\u2019s been a very good experience, very positive.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The wetu will stand in the Yard through Arts First weekend and be dismantled on May 3.<\/p>\n<p>Tiffany Smalley, a junior and Aquinnah Wampanoag who co-directed the project with Leonard, said during the wetu\u2019s opening ceremony April 22 that the project has made her optimistic about the future of Native Americans at Harvard and helped her understand a little more about her own native culture.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPersonally, I\u2019m learning more and more how to honor my ancestors and how to honor [specific] spaces,\u201d Smalley said.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu was constructed with help from the Aquinnah Wampanoag of Gay Head, based on Martha\u2019s Vineyard. Tribal council member Jonathan Perry directed the construction, providing traditional materials.<\/p>\n<p>Perry, who has worked on constructing traditional structures like wetus and dugout canoes for several years, said traditional wetus varied widely in size. The largest could stretch 200 feet and be 40 feet wide. Building them was typically a community effort, done by men. But women owned the structures in their matrilinear culture, with a man moving to a woman\u2019s wetu after marriage, Perry said. The frame was typically constructed of cedar saplings, which are insect- and rot-resistant and considered a sacred wood. The floor was white sand. The thick outer bark sheathing of the structure was typically taken from chestnut and elm trees \u2014 giants of the New England forest that today have been devastated by disease. For the Yard\u2019s wetu, Perry provided bark from poplar trees.<\/p>\n<p>Because native people moved with the seasons, families often owned two homes, Perry said. Because they spent most of their time outdoors, homes were relatively small, providing protected space for sleeping and shelter from harsh weather.<\/p>\n<p>To honor those people, students began construction with a ceremony acknowledging the native people who lived there.<\/p>\n<p>The wetu \u201cis significant because of the fact that this place for thousands and thousands of years was home to many native people,\u201d Perry said.<\/p>\n\r\n\t\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-image-carousel alignfull carousel carousel--images\">\n\t\t<h2 class=\"carousel__heading wp-block-heading\" id=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\">\n\t\t\t<span>Building a wetu<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-element-caption\">Kris Snibbe\/Harvard Staff Photographer<\/span>\t\t<\/h2>\n\t<div aria-labelledby=\"heading-bb6ec41b-7e46-49f5-ae74-40a568b634fd\" class=\"carousel__wrapper splide\"><div class=\"carousel__track splide__track\"><div class=\"carousel__list splide__list\">\n\t\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Home stretch\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_609_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Home stretch<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Mike Veino '13 (left) and Tommy Miller '11 help Jonathan Perry (center) construct a traditional Wampanoag home, called a \"wetu,\" in Harvard Yard. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Knifework\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_344_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Knifework<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tiffany Smalley '11 assists with materials for the wetu. Poles were lashed together with long strips of bark and sheathed in larger rectangular bark squares. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Tree house\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_156_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Tree house<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe member Elizabeth Perry helps fashion the inside walls of the wetu, which are made from thick panels of bark.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Hatchet job\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/041910_wetu_309_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Hatchet job<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Tommy Miller '11 tools around with the foundational poles for the wetu.\n <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Ties that bind\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_218_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Ties that bind<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">Here, cedar bark is peeled and moistened before it's used to fasten the the wetu together.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-harvard-gazette-carousel-slide carousel__slide splide__slide wp-block-image\">\n\t<img alt=\"Welcome home\" height=\"334\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/04\/042110_wetu_227_500.jpg\" width=\"500\"\/>\n\t\t\t<figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--caption\">Welcome home<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-element-caption--credit\">The wetu is open for passersby to check out its interior. It will remain on display through May 3.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/figcaption>\n\t<\/figure>\n\n\t<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\r\n\n\n\n<\/div>\n"}},"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":22115,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2009\/09\/deep-into-harvards-roots\/","url_meta":{"origin":44594,"position":0},"title":"Deep into Harvard&#8217;s roots","author":"harvardgazette","date":"September 11, 2009","format":false,"excerpt":"Fall 2009 archaeology dig in Harvard Yard kicked off with a ceremony involving regional Native American leaders.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/091009_digceremony_508.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/091009_digceremony_508.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/09\/091009_digceremony_508.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":81426,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2011\/05\/honor-for-native-american\/","url_meta":{"origin":44594,"position":1},"title":"Honor for Native American","author":"harvardgazette","date":"May 11, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Harvard University plans to honor Joel Iacoomes, one of the first Native Americans ever to attend the College, with a special posthumous degree at its 2011 Commencement exercises on May 26. Iacoomes died shortly before Commencement in 1665.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/042110_wetu_235_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/042110_wetu_235_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/042110_wetu_235_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":335588,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2021\/11\/a-wampanoag-breakthrough-at-harvard-law-school\/","url_meta":{"origin":44594,"position":2},"title":"Student of history makes history","author":"gazettebeckycoleman","date":"November 23, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Inspired by family and tribe, Samantha Maltais plans a future focused on Indigenous rights, environmental justice.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Nation &amp; World&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Nation &amp; World","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/nation-world\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Samantha Maltais outside Pierce Hall..","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/111721_Maltais_002_1785.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/111721_Maltais_002_1785.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/111721_Maltais_002_1785.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/111721_Maltais_002_1785.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":82566,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2011\/05\/a-degree-delivered\/","url_meta":{"origin":44594,"position":3},"title":"A degree delivered","author":"harvardgazette","date":"May 26, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"Harvard awards degree to Native American who completed studies in 1665 but died before Commencement.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/smalley_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/smalley_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/05\/smalley_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7039,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2007\/10\/american-indians-bless-search-for-harvard-roots\/","url_meta":{"origin":44594,"position":4},"title":"American Indians bless search for Harvard roots","author":"harvardgazette","date":"October 4, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"With a ceremonial blessing and a cautionary reminder of native peoples\u2019 historic oppression, a group of American Indian leaders joined an assemblage of experienced and budding archaeologists Wednesday (Sept. 26) to begin the search for Harvard\u2019s Indian College roots.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":69383,"url":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/story\/2010\/12\/native-american-honored\/","url_meta":{"origin":44594,"position":5},"title":"Native American honored","author":"harvardgazette","date":"December 17, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"The Harvard Foundation on Dec. 16 proudly unveiled the portrait of Caleb Cheeshahteamuck, a member of the Wampanoag tribe, and the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College, in 1665.","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Campus &amp; Community&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Campus &amp; Community","link":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/section\/campus-community\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/121610_portrait_unveil_354_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/121610_portrait_unveil_354_605.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/121610_portrait_unveil_354_605.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/105622744"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44594"},{"taxonomy":"format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/gazette-formats?post=44594"},{"taxonomy":"series","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news.harvard.edu\/gazette\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/series?post=44594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}