Please join Indigenous historians and co-founders of Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective, Danielle Alonso and Malissa Costa, for a presentation exploring the importance of seequan (spring) in Wampanoag life. Marked by the Corn Planting Moon, this season signals the Wampanoag New Year and a shift in daily rhythms, responsibilities, and relationships with the land and waters.
This talk examines how seasonal cycles shaped daily life and community structures in Wampanoag society, while also showing how these practices continue today. From the return of herring and its cultural importance to the planting and care of heirloom seeds, Alonso and Costa highlight knowledge that has been carried forward across generations and remains part of everyday life.
Drawing on their work as historians and educators, they encourage participants to center Indigenous perspectives in understanding New England’s past and present.
Danielle Alonso is the co-founder of Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective and Curator of Indigenous Material Culture and Research at Plimoth Patuxet, specializing in the Early Contact Period with a focus on 17th Century Native New England. A third-generation Mexican American and descendant of the Purhepecha diaspora, her work is shaped by intergenerational stories of faith and cultural legacy, informing her examination of how Indigenous communities navigated the disruptions of colonization and its lasting impacts. She leads the care, research, and interpretation of Indigenous collections while collaborating with tribal educators to develop programming that centers Indigenous knowledge systems.
Grounded in decolonial pedagogy and institutional accountability, Alonso is committed to fostering spaces where Indigenous histories are humanized and preserved through the recognition of Native agency and self-determination.
Malissa Costa is a historian and an educator of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, dedicated to advancing Indigenous knowledge and representation in New England. She serves as Associate Director of Indigenous Outreach and Guest Experience at Plimoth Patuxet Museums, where she develops programs that center Native perspectives and promote cultural sustainability.
Alongside Danielle Alonso, she is the co-founder of Juniper + Pine Indigenous Collective, where she helps lead community-centered educational programming, consultation, and initiatives shaped by Indigenous knowledge keepers and storytelling. Malissa is also a certified herbalist, sharing traditional medicine and plant-based lifeways to support physical and emotional wellbeing within community contexts.
Old North Illuminated’s 2026 Speaker Series events are brought to you in part by Hub Town Tours.
