'Native Spaces' Audio Art Project Launches in Salem, MA

The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, in partnership with the City of Salem, is proud to announce the launch of "Native Spaces," a groundbreaking audio-based, digital public art project. Initiated by Boston-based artist Sarah Kanouse and Massachusett elder Elizabeth Solomon, this collaborative effort was officially unveiled on October 11, 2024 at City Hall.

"Native Spaces" invites the public to experience the rich tapestry of Indigenous history and presence in Salem through an innovative, location-aware digital platform. In particular, the project showcases varied perspectives on land, property, and the historic 1686 "deed" that, in the view of the colonial government, transferred the Massachusett village of Naumkeag to English colonists. Colorful, sun-like medallions placed throughout Salem's public spaces serve as gateways to this immersive audio experience.

Salem residents and visitors can access the project by scanning the QR code on these medallions to load a mobile website that responds to the user's location. As participants move through the area, they are enveloped in a dynamic, ever-changing collage featuring Massachusett and non-Native voices sharing diverse experiences and visions of place, field recordings of natural and urban soundscapes, and traditional powwow drums and original music. While the project is meant to be experienced on-site, the website allows people worldwide to access the audio content via any browser, simulating the on-site experience.

Elizabeth Solomon, Massachusett elder and project co-initiator, states, "Native Spaces grounds the city of Salem within thousands of years of Indigenous history that continues into the present. Native lives have always been inseparably connected with place and we are excited to see our stories prominently reflected within Salem's contemporary landscape."

Sarah Kanouse, the collaborating artist and project co-initiator, adds, "This project invites non-Native people to listen, learn, and pay respect to the Native voices, perspectives, and experiences that have always been present in Salem and all other colonized spaces."

"Native Spaces" has been developed in close cooperation with Elizabeth Peterson from Salem's Parks, Recreation, and Community Services department, Patti Kelleher from Planning and Community Development, and Julie Barry from Salem Public Art.

Future Programming

As a 'born-digital' project, "Native Spaces" will continue to evolve. Additional programming planned for winter 2024-2025 will offer audience members the opportunity to record their own audio reflections about Native Spaces in Salem which may be incorporated into the project's evolving sonic tapestry.

For more information about "Native Spaces", please contact Elizabeth Peterson, City of Salem Parks, Recreation and Community Services by emailing [email protected].

About "Native Spaces"

"Native Spaces" is a digital platform for sharing artful, place-based audio narratives of Indigenous survival, resistance, and resurgence in Eastern Massachusetts. A partnership between the City of Salem and the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, the project aims to increase awareness of Indigenous history and ongoing presence in the region through interactive digital audio experiences.

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