On Tuesday, Sept. 28, a group of Holy Cross faculty members, along with environmental historian Colin Novick, executive director of the Greater Worcester Land Trust, premiered their new documentary "Pakachoag: Where the River Bends" at the Pakachoag Church in Auburn, Mass.
Mapping Nipmuc life before and since European settlement on Pakachoag/College Hill, the documentary serves to dispel the idea that Native peoples disappeared after contact with the settlers. The 45-minute film includes a walking tour of sites that would have supported the Nipmuc village and its survival on today's College Hill/ Pakachoag Hill, located on the border of Auburn and South Worcester.
In a recent article in the Telegram & Gazette, Thomas Doughton, senior lecturer of interdisciplinary studies at Holy Cross, spoke about documentary, as well as the future of the Pakachoag Spring site in light of its upcoming acquisition by the Greater Worcester Land Trust.
"There needs to be far more extensive conversations within the collaboration to see what the future is going to be, how this site is going to be interpreted and used — all of that is a part of a discussion that is going to be beginning now that acquisition seems to be a possibility," said Doughton. "The challenge here, for all of us, is how do we draw attention and maintain the legitimacy of this site in a way that does not make the Nipmuc people disappear as relics of the past."
Doughton, who is of Nipmuc heritage, contributed to the project as part of the Quinsigamond Band of Nipmuc Executive Committee. Along with colleagues Sarah Luria, professor of English and Environmental Studies; Sarah Klotz, assistant professor of English; environmental studies major Madison Chouinard '22; and environmental historian Colin Novick, Doughton organized last year's 1620/2020 Speaker Series, which culminated with a preview screening of the documentary, "Pakachoag: Where the River Bends." The Series was part of ongoing work to educate the campus community on the College's complex history.
To read the full article, go to Telegram.com.
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