NOT A LOST TRIBE The Wangunk Story with Gary “Red Oak” O’Neil

For more than 200 years, the Wangunk have been referred to as Connecticut’s “lost tribe.” But what if they were never lost? Their ancestors lived in the Connecticut River Valley for thousands of years. Their descendants are still here. Join Gary “Red Oak” O’Neil, Wangunk descendant, artist, historian, and master storyteller, for a fascinating evening of stories, history, art, and conversation about the Wangunk people—and the remarkable story of how his family survived. Red Oak is part of the Jonathan Palmer family line, the only surviving Wangunk line that remained in the area. He’ll share stories of a people whose history in the Connecticut River Valley reaches back some 10,000 years, and how generations of his family survived and maintained their identity, in part by living quietly and staying “under the radar.” But this isn’t only a story about the past. Red Oak is also one of the artists represented in Roots Run Deep: The Art of Indigenous Heritage, along with other Wangunk artists. Surrounded by their work in the WORK_SPACE Gallery, we’ll have the rare opportunity to hear directly from an artist about the ways Indigenous heritage, identity, traditions, and stories can be preserved and expressed not only through the stories we tell, but through the art we create. ________________ ONE LAST CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE ROOTS RUN DEEP The evening takes place the night before the exhibition closes, making this a final opportunity to experience Roots Run Deep—and a particularly meaningful way to see it. Rather than simply walking through the gallery, you’ll be able to hear the stories behind some of the work, talk with one of the participating artists, ask questions, and see the history of the place we call home through a different lens. Whether you’re already interested in Indigenous history or simply curious about the people who lived here long before the towns and cities we know today, you don’t need any prior knowledge to be part of the conversation. Come listen. Look closely. Ask questions. Bring your family. History isn’t only something we read about. Sometimes we have the opportunity to hear it from the people whose families lived it. FREE • Open to the Public • Appropriate for All Ages