W.O.W. (Words on the Water) and Project Misik create a Public Yard on the Malden River
Honoring the Malden River with Dance and Music - Project Misik PC: Khalil Kaba
On September 24th, Malden River Works collaborated with Malden Reads and Friends of the Malden River to create a momentous day of honoring and celebrating the Malden River at the site of our upcoming waterfront park.
The day was about Words: Poetry, History, Song, and the internal verbiage of drumming and instruments. Throughout the two contiguous events, participants listened, blessed the waters, sang and danced to Indigenous People’s community celebratory music ranging from Native Americas to the African Diaspora. Over 250 people attended the two memorable events on the Malden River.
Long time educator and past principal of Linden School, Bill Dempsey and Mayor Gary Christenson started the day by reading Dempsey’s poem, The Malden River.
Malden Mayor Gary Christenson and Malden educator and civic leader Bill Dempsey read Dempsey’s poem, “The Malden River” PC: Khalil Kaba
Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines of the Nipmuc People shared stories about the Massachusetts’ indigenous peoples’ struggle with the history of European colonialism, the present day lack of education of our indigenous roots, and the importance of honoring our earth, especially our waters. The participants sang and danced with Gaines and his nephews to the Malden River bank. The participants joined together in the blessing ceremony of the Malden River and her community to create healing after decades of industrial abuse.
Andre Strongbearheart Gaines leads the Blessing of the Malden River PC: Khalil Kaba
Friends of the Malden River offered free canoe rides to all. Over 70 people learned the rules of the river and paddled to their hearts’ content. Volunteers and the Malden YMCA Leader Corp were critical assistants to the community paddlers.
Volunteers assisting Community Paddlers PC: Khalil Khaba
Malden River Works, Mystic River Watershed Association, EarthEcho International (a youth environmentalist group), The Malden Girl Scouts, and the Malden Youth Garden Club ran activities centered on the environment and crucial water protections for our environment and ecosystem.
Educational Activities PC: Khalil Kaba
People savored the food provided by one of Malden’s Haitian restaurants, The Island Caribbean Cuisine and Drinks before Project Misik kicked off the afternoon with Brazilian dance instructor, Isaura Oliveira and Zili Misik, led by Kera Washington. Oliveira led a dance workshop that led everyone to the Malden River, for a Brazilian Blessing of the River. Project Misik continued with Peniel Guerrier. Guerrier created a drum and dance circle with Zili Misik on the stage. Becky Bass ran a Steel Pan Workshop. People learned and joined in with the Carribean rythyms that resonate with all.
Project Misik’s Isaura Oliveira leads the Afro-Brazilian dance and blessing of the Malden River PC: Naomi Kahn
Kera Washington (right) leading Zili Misik PC: Khalil Kaba
Peniel Guerrier, Haitian Drum and Dance Instructor, engages the community PC: Khalil Kaba
Zili Misik with Becky Bass (on the Steel Pan) leading the Steel Pan Workshop PC: Khalil Kaba
For more photographs and in depth storytelling, please click on this link and read Malden Urban Media Arts’ Neighborhood View article written by Anne D’Urso-Rose, Indigenous wisdom, poetry and history guide community event at Malden River