What it Was Before, Dawn Spears (Narragansett) - Stolen Relations

Welcome to the Stolen Relations Explore page!

Two quick words of caution:

Archival documents often contain terms, phrases, and biases that reduce, minimize, or alter Native identities and views of the world.
This project is not “complete” — numbers shown represent only what has been entered into this database, not the total number of Natives who were enslaved or unfree in any given area.

Two Native people looking out over the landscape.

What it Was Before (2022), Dawn Spears (Narragansett)

This painting depicts the beauty of pre-contact Dawnland (New England), with two Native people looking out over fields and hills of agriculture.

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Indigenous voices

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Narragansett woman smiling in blue blouse, blue-green shaw, beaded necklace and earrings; trees, hills, and shoreline in background.

Introduction and the Importance of Indigenous Enslavement to Her Community

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Introduction to Patricia Rocker and Her Family’s History

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Paula Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag) in checkered blouse, stands at angle with hands interlocked looking towards the left; partial building and trees in background.

Introduction to Paula Peters and the Mashpee Wampanoag

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Question card asking how Loren Spear's works have brought attention to Indigenous history, dated August 4, 2023, on beige background with blue horizontal bar far left.

Loren’s Work to Uncover and Share Indigenous Stories

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Narragansett woman smiling in blue blouse, blue-green shaw, beaded necklace and earrings; trees, hills, and shoreline in background.

The Resilience of Indigenous People

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Loren Spears (Narragansett), in pink dress and white cardigan, sits in front of exhibit in the Tomaquag Museum.

Community Continuation and Strengthening

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Loren Spears freeze frame

Education and the Path Towards Truth and Reconciliation

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Paula Peters (Mashpee Wampanaog), wearing white blouse and grey cardigan, glasses, sits in armchair, bookcases and cabinets in background.

Ways to Bring Stories of Indigenous Slavery Out of the Margins

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Questions card asking how supporting Indigenous perspective lead to healing, dated May 9, 2024; beige background with purple horizontal bar in far left.

Supporting Indigenous Perspectives