Book Signing Party A Success!

Thanks to all of Chet's friends, colleagues, family and supporters who attended the wonderful Book Signing party on May 19th, 2011 that was so graciously hosted by Arti & Harold Freeman.  Luckily, the rain held off and while the air was muggy and humid outside, it was nothing but cool easy breezes indoors as 50 -60 guests gathered around, wine glasses and fruit plates in hand, as Harold introduced Chester Soliz and his labor of love, "The Historical Footprints of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians."

Welcoming everyone with "Kuneepeam!" which means "Welcome!" in the Algonquian language, Chet (or Blue Duck) spoke about his 50 year long desire to write a book about the history of his tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag, which has often been misrepresented inaccurately in the past.  Between jokes about the sometimes arduous task of researching material for his book and the tribe's current state of developing its own casino, Chet explained the three main parts of the book section by section and then answered questions during a Q&A period aftwerwards. 

One of the questions was about receiving your "Indian name" and how the naming ceremony takes place, at which point, members of the author's family who were present recited their Indian names and how they received them.  In an unexpected and unrehearsed moment (the best kind), the author's eldest grandson, Fenton Neil, recited a touching passage from the book (a passage he had written himself) about how he received his Indian name as a young boy and the significance it held for him as a rite of passage. 

The evening continued with wine and cheese and a celebratory cake which had a photograph of the cover of the book, as old friends reunited and caught up in between getting their books signed by the author. This book signing was truly a wonderful event made successful by the love and support of good friends who came out in droves to support Chet and his work and we extend our heartfelt thanks to them all!

Next Book Signing: Look for our table at the...

Mashpee Wampanaog Annual Pow-Wow ~ July 2nd - July 4th, 2011!
Mashpee ~ Cape Cod, MA

Click here for more details: http://www.powwows.com/calendar/event-details.php?eventid=11787

The Historical Footprints of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians Takes Its First Steps

 “The Historical Footprints of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians” Has Been Published!

(May, 2011) At long last, The Historical Footprints of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians was finally completed on May 2, 2011 and the books arrived hot off the presses on May 5th! This is an exciting time for all of us who have been involved in the gestation of this labor of love and we are thrilled to see it come to life thanks to the diligence, hard work, and steady focus of Chester Soliz of whom we are extremely proud. His deep love and concern for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe is evident throughout the pages of his book. 

"The Wampanoag tribe has enjoyed a rich oral history passed down from generation to generation by our tribal elders. Unfortunately, when our elders die, much of our history dies with them,"  Chester remarks. "For the past fifty years, I have had a passion to chronicle our history in a straight forward, factual chronological narrative for those interested in native Wampanoag history."

Beautifully and dramatically presented with pages filled with historic black and white and rich colorful photographs, many shot by native artists and the author himself, this chronicle of the Wampanoag tribe successfully weaves together a fascinating visual history with a written history that is both compelling and dramatic and long overdue. 

"It was disturbing that in both elementary and high schools, there was an abundance of European, Asiatic and U.S. history, but a woefully inadequate amount of Native American history," Chester says. "Despite the fact that Native Americans were this nation's first authentic citizens!"

The Historical Footprints of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indians recounts the history and survival of this nation's tribe, known as the "People of the First Light," in vivid detail.

Thank you so much for your continued interest in this essential piece of the American portrait.  Join us now and take a walk in our footprints!

"The Historical Footprints of the Wampanoag Indians" is now available on Amazon.com by clicking here:  http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=the+historical+footprints+mashpee

Please email any questions to: historicalfootprints@gmail.com