Divine Uwimana ‘27 sands the circular wood slices to prepare them for their laser engravings.

In spring 2025, the Williams College Makerspace partnered with the Stockbridge-Munsee Community to create truly meaningful engraved wooden appreciation gifts for museums that supported the repatriation of ancestors and sacred items. The gifts were presented at the Community’s reburial ceremony on April 24, 2025.

Each circular wood slice, roughly nine inches wide, is engraved with the Stockbridge-Munsee Tribal Seal and the words “Anushiik / Oneewe 2025”  meaning “thank you” in Munsee and Mohican. These tokens were designed to express gratitude, respect, and remembrance.

From Idea to Creation

Divine Uwimana ‘27 puts non-toxic wood oil on the appreciation to protect and enhance the grain.

Makerspace Program Manager, David Keiser-Clark, and Makerspace partner Divine Uwimana ’27 worked closely to bring the Community’s vision to life. Using existing wood slices from David’s collection, they carefully sanded and treated each one with natural oil to highlight the grain.

The engraving process balanced tradition and precision. The Tribal Seal, provided by the Community, was transferred into engraving software and etched using a laser or CNC machine. A small eyelet hook and twine were added to each piece so they could be easily displayed.

Challenges and Creative Solutions

Because each wood slice had natural variations in size and shape, the team adjusted engraving placements to keep the designs centered. Tight deadlines also meant careful scheduling from design approval in March to production and finishing in April.

The Final Pieces

The finished plaques feel both grounded and symbolic. The wood’s natural texture connects to the earth, while the engraved seal ties the pieces to heritage and identity. Together, they represent gratitude and shared stewardship between the Stockbridge-Munsee Community and museum partners.

Sustainability and Learning

This project emphasized sustainability, reusing wood, choosing natural oils, and minimizing waste. It also provided hands-on learning in digital design, engraving, and collaborative creation across cultural contexts.

A Gesture of Gratitude

The engraved wood appreciations are more than gifts; they are acts of respect. They honor the return of ancestors to their homeland and recognize the partnerships that made it possible, a reminder that craftsmanship can help carry forward stories of reconciliation, heritage, and care.

Special thanks to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community for their guidance and cultural leadership, and to the Williams College Makerspace and Science Shop for their support.

Finished engraved wood appreciations ready to be presented at the Community’s reburial ceremony.