Name Paulla Jennings | ||
Ethnicity Turtle Clan, Narragansett tribe; tribal council member Alma mater Community College of Rhode Island Occupation Professional story teller, educator and children’s book author, curator Employer Boston Children's Museum, Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum Known for Book, Strawberry Thanksgiving, lawsuit regarding a raid on a tribal smoke shop | ||
Narragansett Storytelling
Paulla Dove Jennings is a member of the Narragansett tribe and a professional story teller, educator and children’s book author.
Contents
- Narragansett Storytelling
- Personal History Tribal Identification
- Career
- Strawberry Thanksgiving
- References
Personal History & Tribal Identification
Paulla "Sunflower" Dove Jennings was born to Eleanor (Clan Mother Pretty Flower) and Ferris (War Chief Roaring Bull) Dove. Her family is of mixed Niantic and Narragansett tribal identification. The family hails from the Turtle Clan, known as keepers of history, tribal lore, and legends. Jennings' father was the last traditional Narragansett war chief and graduated from Bacone College. He and his wife ran a popular restaurant and trading post for many years called Dovecrest, later the site of a school aimed at teaching a curriculum which reflected native history and values. Jennings was one of four children, she learned her tribal and family history from her grandmother.
Career
Jennings also obtained a degree from the Community College of Rhode Island and has worked as a curator for both the Boston Children's Museum and the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum in Exeter, Rhode Island. She has performed as a storyteller at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. In 2010, Jennings served as the Tribal Historian in Residence for the certificate program in Native American Studies at the UMASS Amherst.
In addition to her work as an educator and storyteller, Jennings has been politically active in her tribe. She has served on her tribal council, and in 2007 ran an unsuccessful campaign for the position of chief sachem. She and her son Adam were among the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Rhode Island State Police, which in July 2003 raided a tribal smoke shop. The raid resulted in eight arrests and eight injured, including Jennings's son. Jennings herself has spoken publicly about the case as an infringement on Narragansett tribal sovereignty.
Strawberry Thanksgiving
Strawberry Thanksgiving was written for the Multicultural Celebrations at The Children's Museum of Boston, part of a series of books designed to educate children about different cultures. Written by Jennings and illustrated by Ramona Peters, the book tells how a young boy, Adam, learns to forgive his sister by hearing his grandmother tell the story of Strawberry Thanksgiving.