Running Strong for American Indian Youth® Dreamstarter Creative Robert DeGaetano (Mashpee Wampanoag), 24, of Douglas, Massachusetts, has been doing acrylic painting and shell-work using quahog shells to make jewelry pieces, including earrings, necklaces, and pendants, for three years.
“As ‘People of the First Light’, we are historically known for our coastal knowledge and connection to the land and sea,” he says of his tribal community whose homelands are located on Cape Cod.
“Wampum jewelry holds deep cultural significance,” explained Robert in his grant application. “It’s not just decorative, it is a tradition rooted in communication, storytelling, and spiritual meaning within many Northeastern Indigenous communities, including my own.
“Wampum has survived through centuries despite colonization, displacement, and attempts to suppress Indigenous practices.
“The fact that it is still being created and worn today is a testament to the resilience of my people and the strength of our traditions.
“Continuing to make wampum jewelry is a way of honoring those who came before me while also ensuring these practices remain alive for future generations to come.”
His goal through the project is to continue on the path he loves – “art, in its many forms.
“I want to be able to keep doing what I have done over the past couple of years, but on an even larger scale,” he says. “I’d love to create a few large pieces of artwork using larger canvases that will tell stories of Mashpee Wampanoag people in local exhibits.”
With his $2,500 grant, Robert is purchasing a new saw, telling us, “It is a necessary tool that I use for shaping shells and making cuts,” after the one he had been using for the past three years stopped working. He is also planning on using a portion of the grant to purchase an easel and canvases, “so I can paint more detailed but larger paintings.”
Additionally, he will use funds towards the fees to enter his art pieces into exhibits, events, and craft fairs.
His previous works include original paintings inspired by Indigenous culture, as well as unique handcrafted wampum jewelry pieces.
“I have been experimenting with different shapes and arrangements of shell pieces with my wampum work, which has led to some successful sales to many members of my community and even some from outside of my community that were looking for standout pieces,” he told us.
Robert told us that the grant award and project will have “a meaningful impact on both my personal growth as an artist and my ability to contribute to cultural visibility within and beyond my community.
“For me, having the resources to work on a larger scale will allow me to push my artistic ability further, develop stronger technical skills, and create work that I may not currently have the means to produce.” Robert added that the grant will also alleviate some of the financial burden that comes with creating more exposure for his work.
“As a Mashpee Wampanoag artist, I create to stay connected to my culture, which is what inspires my artistic work.
“I try to convey my community’s stories and history through artwork and wampum jewelry pieces, using locally sourced shell for my jewelry.
“I aim to keep this traditional craft alive for future generations, as it has remained despite the many struggles our people have faced.”
