June Quarterly Newsletter
Sunday June 13
On Sunday, June 13th, the Society will host our first in-person quarterly meeting since the pandemic began. The meeting will be held on-site in the Society’s courtyard in Salem. The speaker for the presentation will be Drew Shuptar-Rayvis and his presentation is entitled, “Eight Coats, Seven Shirts, Fifteen Fathom Wampum: Early Colonial Settlement and the First Deeds.” Drew’s program will explore the interconnected relationships between the Dutch, Swedes, English and Algonkian peoples in the Delaware Valley and beyond. The presentation will also include a practical black powder demonstration, if the weather permits. The program is open to the public free of charge but donations are always welcome! Drew Shuptar-Rayvis (Pekatawas MakataweU “Black Corn”) holds a cum laude Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology and Sociology from Western Connecticut State University and a Certificate Degree in Archaeology from Norwalk Community College. A true American of the mid-Atlantic region, his family includes indigenous Pocomoke heritage, Pennsylvania Dutch, Welsh, Swiss, English, Scots-Irish, Boyko Ukrainian and Ashkanazi Jewish, he honors all of his ancestors as a practicing living historian and regularly participates in colonial era reenactments, interpretations and public educational events. He has studied and become proficient in the reading of Wampum and works diligently in the research and preservation of the Eastern Woodland languages, particularly Renape and Mahican and is educated in the many European languages at use in the Colonial Period. He was the first garden manager of Western Connecticut State University’s Permaculture Garden, and practices Native horticulture. He has been a frequent model for historical artist Don Troiani and has been used as a model by David Hasseler as well as sculptor Michael Keropian; lastly he has also been featured in two historical films, “ Washington’s Armor” a film about Washington’s French and Indian war years and “ Rumors of War” which was about King Phillips war (1675-1676) ; he was also the Algonkian historical consultant for “ Rumors of War” and is scheduled to be in two more historical films that take place during the 17th century.
Sunday, June 13th, 2021 at Salem County Historical Society, 83 Market Street, Salem NJ
Time: 1:30 to 3:00 P.M.
Speaker: Drew Shuptar-Rayvis
Topic: "Eight Coates, Seven Shirts, Fifteen Fathom Wampum: Early Colonial Settlement and the First Deeds"