The first session will take place at Temple Beth-El, but all subsequent sessions will be held at outdoor and indoor locations throughout East Bay RI and nearby Massachusetts. This is a repeat of a popular course.

Would you like to know the American origin story from the perspective of the Massasoit Ousamequin and the Indigenous People who welcomed the Pilgrims in early 1621? They were the leaders of the Pokanoket Nation, an alliance of sixty tribes in Sowams or “the Land of the Clearing” from today’s Providence to Bristol, RI. By identifying and visiting Indigenous and colonial sites in Sowams, the Tribe’s ancestral homeland, we will study the events leading up to and following King Philip’s War (1675-76) and the devastating transition of power from an ancient Indigenous nation to an English colonial confederation.

Format: Class members will have the opportunity to give presentations and lead discussions each week on topics that they will select from a list prepared by the coordinator. The first half of each session will include a tour, and the second half will provide a member presentation. Some walking on uneven terrain will be required in two of the eight sessions. 

Registrants will be asked to sign a waiver to participate in this course. Look for the waiver link in your registration confirmation email.