First Feast

The First Feast

Greetings! I’m Kiona, a member of the Wampanoag tribe.

How many birds can you count?

I live with my sister, mother and father in our wetu—our home made from branches and bark.

How many pots do you see?

Pilgrims came to Turtle Island on a ship called the Mayflower.

I helped pack a big basket to take to them, woven from sun-dried corn husk.

We took golden corn to help fill their bellies.

How many ears of corn can you count?

And fish from our bubbling streams.

How many fish do you see?

The juiciest, plumpest berries. Into the basket they go. Plop. Plop. Plop.

How many berries can you count?

We took acorns for acorn meal.

How many acorns are there in this picture?

We packed cotton to help keep their toes warm.

Big socks for grown-up toes, small socks for baby toes.

How many cotton balls are there?

I lined the basket with the best feathers from my collection...feathers as soft as the clouds and as bright as a rainbow.

Which feather is your favorite?

“Thank you!” they said.