Before: red maple wood discs, sliced from a fallen tree in Hopkins Forest

Last spring, I worked on a project in the Makerspace that involved creating engraved wood slices as gifts for a reburial ceremony. This event was the reburial of the ancestors of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community. The Makerspace collaborated with Bonney Hartley, the Historic Preservation Manager at the Stockbridge-Munsee Historic Preservation office, to work on these slices. They were intended as a token of appreciation to the museums that assisted during the repatriation process. The reburial held deep significance; it was not only about returning the ancestors to the earth, but also about restoring wholeness and dignity to a community that had long been separated from its history.

The event aimed to reunite the ancestors’ remains with the funerary objects originally intended to accompany them. Over time, many of these items had been separated, often displayed in museums as artworks or stored away in boxes and plastic bags. The process of carefully unpacking, organizing, and preparing the materials for reburial required significant effort. Under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), the team undertook considerable legal and logistical work to ensure the ancestors and their belongings could be returned. Before the repatriation, they were in 10 different museums or federal collections agencies across various collections.  After years of collaboration, the team successfully reunited and reburied them, working in partnership with organizations such as the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Connection to Place and Heritage

This process was deeply grounding for Bonney and the community, reaffirming their connection to place and heritage. This process restored and further grounded a sense of identity and place in the world. To them, it was truly meaningful to rebury ancestors, reunite them with the objects they were intended to be buried with, and return them to the earth.  It was, to some extent, a way to repair the past, the harm of being separated from their final resting place. It was a profound act of healing and restoration.

The wood slices were not only to appreciate the museum, but also all the people who supported them during this process. It was also an opportunity to express gratitude to the numerous staff members and individuals who work at these museums and federal institutions that hold the collection, and to appreciate those who dedicate significant time and energy to collaborating with them. Even though the focus was on the ancestors, there were people in the scenes who made it happen through goodwill and hard work. To Bonney, this gift is akin to a traditional practice and a form of reciprocity, acknowledging the mutual relationship that exists between them.

Bonney said, “It was hugely meaningful to have a piece of our homelands…” emphasizing how sharing these wood slices extended the Tribe’s tradition of gift-giving and reciprocity. Through the wood slice, in collaboration with the Makerspace and Williams College, they helped offer this gift at the reburial ceremony, and to give one piece of our homeland here in this other location for the reburial. It helps to continue the tradition of gift-giving during such an emotional and spiritual moment, restoring some aspect of the Tribe’s history.

The process of creating these gifts involved a lot of reflected care and intention:

Sanding

We began by carefully making the surfaces even to prepare the wood for engraving.

Sanding: We began by carefully making the surfaces even to prepare the wood for engraving.

Laser Engraving

The Tribal Seal was then laser-engraved into each slice, and all the details were captured.

Using the Epilog Laser Engravier

Finishing with Natural Oil

A few coats of natural oil protected the wood in order to enhance its texture and grain.

Applying non-toxic Walrus wood oil finish

Adding Hardware

Finally, hardware was attached so each slice could be hung on a wall.

Back: hardware was attached so each slice could be hung on a wall

Project completed!

Reflection

For me, making the wood slices was more than a creative task; it was an act of participation in collective healing. It reminded me that craftsmanship can carry history and serve as a bridge between institutions and Indigenous communities.. Through this experience, I gained a deeper understanding of the history of the Stockridge-Munsee Community and the cultural significance behind the reburial event. It was truly moving to witness the respect, collaboration, and care that went into every step of the repatriation process. It’s also remarkable how the Makerspace’s efforts can be part of such a significant event, bringing together creativity, heritage, and community in a powerful way.