LYNN — Darius Coombs of the Wampanoag Tribe stopped by Hood Elementary School on Tuesday to share his Indigenous heritage with the students.
During his presentation, Coombs engaged the students by teaching them various Wampanoag songs and dances, popular Wampanoag words, and letting them interact with tools and clothing from Wampanoag culture.
He also educated the students about Wampanoag family dynamics, ecosystems, and agriculture to teach them to respect the Earth and value nature.
The Wampanoag Tribe is a federally recognized tribe that has inhabited Eastern Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years. Lynn Public Schools Assistant Director of History Kristen Tabacco said that Coombs’ presentation is part of LPS’s investigating history curriculum, where students learn about Massachusetts and its people.
“It’s for students to engage with other cultures and to be able to tackle their differences and similarities and learn from each other so we can have a civically engaged society,” Tabacco said of Coombs’ lesson.
Hood Elementary School Principal Jessica Ekhomu talked about why Coombs’ interactive teaching style was effective in keeping the children curious and engaged.
“It makes everything connect for the kids because they can see or hear something in the story come alive, and it makes it really stick with them,” Ekhomu said.
In one moment in Marlaina Johnston’s third grade classroom, Coombs held up a stuffed doll with no face and explained its symbolic meaning to the class.
“We don’t want to raise our kids to treat people differently because of the way they look. We should care for each other, respect each other, and help each other out,” Coombs said.
He added, “We come from one big race called the human race. I’m not better than you; you’re not better than me. It’s very important to remember that.”
Johnston gave her perspective as to why Coombs’ presentation was impactful for her students’ sense of empathy.
“Often, young students think of Indigenous people as people who lived a long time ago. The kids getting to experience a Wampanoag person sharing their culture with them is really important,” she said.
Coombs echoed that sentiment.
“We’re still here. We haven’t gone anywhere,” he said of the Wampanoag Tribe.
He added, “Kids aren’t raised to hate other people. It’s something that’s taught. So I want to get across that we’re all in this together.”
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Hood Elementary School student Wilson Mendez learns how to count to five in Wampanoag as Darius Coombs visits the school on Tuesday.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, teaches Hood Elementary School students in Lynn a traditional Wampanoag song and dance during his visit on Tuesday.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, teaches Hood Elementary School student Leo Pustorino how members of the Wampanoag Nation would wrestle during his visit on Tuesday.
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Hood Elementary School student Adan Roman carries a baby like a member of the Wampanoag Nation would.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, shows Hood Elementary School students his quiver made out of a river otter during his visit on Tuesday.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, demontrates his bow and arrow to Hood Elementary School students in Lynn on Tuesday.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, explains to Hood Elementary School students in Lynn that skunk is a delicacy among his people.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, shows Hood Elementary School students his black wolf pelt during his visit on Tuesday.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, throws a black wolf pelt over the shoulders of Dylan Nova Milian during his visit on Tuesday.
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Hood Elementary School student Emily Chheng tries on a Wampanoag black wolf pelt.
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Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, throws a black wolf pelt over the shoulders of April Soto during his visit on Tuesday.
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Hood Elementary School students get up close and personal with traditional Wampanoag artifacts as Darius Coombs, of the Wampanoag Nation, visits the school on Tuesday.
