♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> COMINGP, WE'RE CONNECTING >>> COMINGP, WE'RE CONNECTING WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY WITH YOU THE CREATIVITY CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, CULTURE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, INCLUDING A FESTIVAL THAT INCLUDING A FESTIVAL THAT CELEBRATES REGGAE MUSIC.

CELEBRATES REGGAE MUSIC.

>> GOOD MUSIC SIMULATE -- >> GOOD MUSIC SIMULATE -- STIMULATES THE BRAIN.

STIMULATES THE BRAIN.

IT'S A WAVE.

IT'S A WAVE.

AND IF YOU CAN CONNECT TO THE AND IF YOU CAN CONNECT TO THE WAVE, YOU FEEL THE ENERGY OF WAVE, YOU FEEL THE ENERGY OF WHAT THE ARTIST IS TRYING TO WHAT THE ARTIST IS TRYING TO SAY.

SAY.

>>> HONORING THE CULTURE OF >>> HONORING THE CULTURE OF NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN THE REGION.

REGION.

>> SO MANY KIDS WERE TAKEN, NOT >> SO MANY KIDS WERE TAKEN, NOT JUST BOARDING SCHOOLS ANDED JUST BOARDING SCHOOLS ANDED WERIAL SHOALS, BUT -- SCHOOLS, WERIAL SHOALS, BUT -- SCHOOLS, BUT IN FOSTER HOMES AND THAT'S BUT IN FOSTER HOMES AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE STRIPPED OF WHERE THEY WERE STRIPPED OF THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR ABILITY THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> AND WE'LL IMMEDIATE A TEACHER >> AND WE'LL IMMEDIATE A TEACHER WHO SHARES HIS LOVE OF MUSIC IN WHO SHARES HIS LOVE OF MUSIC IN TWO LANGUAGES.

TWO LANGUAGES.

>> I TRIED TO GUIDE THE NEXT >> I TRIED TO GUIDE THE NEXT GENERATION TO FEEL THE MUSIC.

GENERATION TO FEEL THE MUSIC.

>> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND >> JOIN US FOR THOSE STORIES AND MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE MORE AS WE EXPLORE THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON NEW ENGLAND, UP NEXT ON "CONNECTING POINT."

"CONNECTING POINT."

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR >>> WELCOME AND THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING JOINING US FOR "CONNECTING POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR POINT," YOUR SOURCE FOR CREAVE, CULTURE, A CREAVE, CULTURE, A COMMUNITY.

COMMUNITY.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT EVERY WEEK WE EXPLORE ALL THAT WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO WESTERN NEW ENGLAND HAS TO OFFER, AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO OFFER, AND TODAY WE'RE COMING TO YOU FROM THE SPRINGFIELD YOU FROM THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS.

MUSEUMS.

ORIGINATED IN 1857T EARLIEST ORIGINATED IN 1857T EARLIEST MUSEUM COLLECTIONS IN MUSEUM COLLECTIONS IN SPRINGFIELD WERE HOUSED IN A SPRINGFIELD WERE HOUSED IN A ROOM IN CITY HALL.

ROOM IN CITY HALL.

TODAY THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS TODAY THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS OFFERS FIVE DIFFERENT MUSEUMS AT OFFERS FIVE DIFFERENT MUSEUMS AT THE QUADRANGLE IN METRO CENTER, THE QUADRANGLE IN METRO CENTER, COVERING THE ARTS, HISTORY, AND COVERING THE ARTS, HISTORY, AND SCIENCE, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S SCIENCE, AS WELL AS THE CITY'S VERY OWN DR. SEUSS.

VERY OWN DR. SEUSS.

WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE OF WE'LL LEARN MORE ABOUT ONE OF THE EXHIBITS HERE A LITTLE LATER THE EXHIBITS HERE A LITTLE LATER IN THE PROGRAM, BUT WE BEGIN OUR IN THE PROGRAM, BUT WE BEGIN OUR PROGRAM TODAY IN THE NEIGHBORING PROGRAM TODAY IN THE NEIGHBORING CITY OF HOLYOKE.

CITY OF HOLYOKE.

MUSIC HAS BEEN A PART OF JULIO MUSIC HAS BEEN A PART OF JULIO ARGELIS' LIFE SINCE HE WAS A ARGELIS' LIFE SINCE HE WAS A CHILD, STARTING OFF AS A SINGER, CHILD, STARTING OFF AS A SINGER, HE LEARNED TO PLAY SEVERAL HE LEARNED TO PLAY SEVERAL INSTRUMENTS, STUDYING CELLO AND INSTRUMENTS, STUDYING CELLO AND CLASSIC GUITAR IN COLLEGE.

CLASSIC GUITAR IN COLLEGE.

A NATIVE OF PUERTO RICO, HE A NATIVE OF PUERTO RICO, HE MOVED TO THE AREA MORE THAN TWO MOVED TO THE AREA MORE THAN TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS OPENED OF THE YEARS AGO AND HAS OPENED OF THE DRAG LYOMUSIC ACDEMMIA IN DRAG LYOMUSIC ACDEMMIA IN HOLE -- HOLEY.

HOLE -- HOLEY.

PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US PRODUCER DAVE FRASER BRINGS US HISTORY.

HISTORY.

>> IT'S 5:00 ON HOLYOKE.

>> IT'S 5:00 ON HOLYOKE.

JULIO ARGELIS IS JUST GETTING JULIO ARGELIS IS JUST GETTING STARTED, TEACHING MUSIC AT HIS STARTED, TEACHING MUSIC AT HIS NEWLY FORMED ACTIONS.

NEWLY FORMED ACTIONS.

>> THIS NAME I GOT LIKE IN MY >> THIS NAME I GOT LIKE IN MY MIND A LONG TIME AGO, BECAUSE MIND A LONG TIME AGO, BECAUSE DRAG MEANS PUSHING SOMEBODY.

DRAG MEANS PUSHING SOMEBODY.

AND LYOIS THE LAST THREE LETTERS AND LYOIS THE LAST THREE LETTERS OF MY NAME, JULIO.

OF MY NAME, JULIO.

SO IT'S LIKE I'M PUSHING PEOPLE SO IT'S LIKE I'M PUSHING PEOPLE TO DO I KNOW SOMETHING.

TO DO I KNOW SOMETHING.

SO -- AND THIS SOMETHING IS SO -- AND THIS SOMETHING IS MUSIC.

MUSIC.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR.

DAH, DAH, DAH.

DAH, DAH, DAH.

>> HE TAUGHT MUSIC FOR MORE THAN >> HE TAUGHT MUSIC FOR MORE THAN A DECADE IN PUERTO RICO BEFORE A DECADE IN PUERTO RICO BEFORE MOVING HERE WITH HIS FAMILY MOVING HERE WITH HIS FAMILY AFTER HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED AFTER HURRICANE MARIA DEVASTATED THE ISLAND.

THE ISLAND.

ONCE HERE HE DISCOVERED THAT ONCE HERE HE DISCOVERED THAT THERE WERE NOT MANY OPTIONS FOR THERE WERE NOT MANY OPTIONS FOR PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITY TO LEARN PEOPLE IN HIS COMMUNITY TO LEARN MUSIC.

MUSIC.

>> NOBODY TEACHING MUSIC IN >> NOBODY TEACHING MUSIC IN SPANISH HERE.

SPANISH HERE.

YOU -- YOU CAN FIND IT IN YOU -- YOU CAN FIND IT IN ENGLISH AND I SAY, WELL, I WAS ENGLISH AND I SAY, WELL, I WAS IN PUERTO RICO 12 YEARS GIVING IN PUERTO RICO 12 YEARS GIVING CLASSES AND -- AND IN A MUSEUM CLASSES AND -- AND IN A MUSEUM ACADEMY THERE.

ACADEMY THERE.

SO I CAN START HERE, MAYBE!

SO I CAN START HERE, MAYBE!

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> THE SCHOOL IS ON THE SECOND >> THE SCHOOL IS ON THE SECOND FLOOR ABOVE CML INGLASIA.

FLOOR ABOVE CML INGLASIA.

THE SPACE HAS SEVERAL ROOMS FOR THE SPACE HAS SEVERAL ROOMS FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN MUSIC.

PEOPLE TO LEARN MUSIC.

HIS STUDENTS RUN THE GAMUT FROM HIS STUDENTS RUN THE GAMUT FROM AGE 5 TO 50 AND BEYOND.

AGE 5 TO 50 AND BEYOND.

PETER HERNANDEZ IS LEARNING TO PETER HERNANDEZ IS LEARNING TO PLAY THE CELLO.

PLAY THE CELLO.

>> WHEN I WAS A KID, I LEARNED >> WHEN I WAS A KID, I LEARNED HOW TO PLAY THE GUITAR ON MY HOW TO PLAY THE GUITAR ON MY OWN.

OWN.

AND YEARS PAST -- YEARS PASSED AND YEARS PAST -- YEARS PASSED AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 50 -- 51 OR AND WHEN I WAS ABOUT 50 -- 51 OR 52 YEARS OLD, I SAID TO MYSELF, 52 YEARS OLD, I SAID TO MYSELF, I WANT TO LEARN A NEW I WANT TO LEARN A NEW INSTRUMENT.

INSTRUMENT.

AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THIS IS AND I SAID TO MYSELF, THIS IS THE ONE.

THE ONE.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> MAYORLEES IS A PASTOR ALONG >> MAYORLEES IS A PASTOR ALONG WITH HER HUSBAND.

WITH HER HUSBAND.

SHE FINDS THE PIANO VERY SHE FINDS THE PIANO VERY SPIRITUAL AND HOPES TO SPIRITUAL AND HOPES TO INCORPORATE THE MUSIC SHE'S INCORPORATE THE MUSIC SHE'S LEARNING INTO HER CHURCH LEARNING INTO HER CHURCH SERVICES.

SERVICES.

>> WITH THE ACADEMY IS OPEN, MY >> WITH THE ACADEMY IS OPEN, MY HUSBAND SAY, YOU NEED TO GO.

HUSBAND SAY, YOU NEED TO GO.

YOU NEED TO LEARN.

YOU NEED TO LEARN.

JUST PUSHING ME, YOU KNOW.

JUST PUSHING ME, YOU KNOW.

IT'S POSITIVE.

IT'S POSITIVE.

YOU NEED TO -- YOU SINGING, YOU YOU NEED TO -- YOU SINGING, YOU NEED TO PREPARE YOURSELF WITH NEED TO PREPARE YOURSELF WITH OTHER STEPS.

OTHER STEPS.

>> LA CONGA.

>> LA CONGA.

>> DURING THE CHILDREN'S >> DURING THE CHILDREN'S CLASSES, HIS ENERGY AND LOVE OF CLASSES, HIS ENERGY AND LOVE OF MUSIC IS INFECTIOUS.

MUSIC IS INFECTIOUS.

BOUNCING BETWEEN ROOMS, TEACHING BOUNCING BETWEEN ROOMS, TEACHING NEW CONCEPTS, AND BUILDING UP TO NEW CONCEPTS, AND BUILDING UP TO MORE DIFFICULT VARIATIONS OF THE MORE DIFFICULT VARIATIONS OF THE SAME SONGS.

SAME SONGS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> WE'RE LEARNING HOW DO THE >> WE'RE LEARNING HOW DO THE NOTES WITH THE GUITAR BY LOOKING NOTES WITH THE GUITAR BY LOOKING AT IT FIRST.

AT IT FIRST.

AND THEN AFTER WE'RE JUST GOING AND THEN AFTER WE'RE JUST GOING TO PRACTICE NOT LOOKING AT IT.

TO PRACTICE NOT LOOKING AT IT.

>> I'M HERE TAKING MUSIC CLASSES >> I'M HERE TAKING MUSIC CLASSES BECAUSE IT'S ENTERTAINING TO BECAUSE IT'S ENTERTAINING TO PLAY MUSIC.

PLAY MUSIC.

AND IT'S SOMETHING REALLY FUN 9 AND IT'S SOMETHING REALLY FUN 9 LIFE.

LIFE.

>> TWO, THREE, FOUR, DAH, DAH, >> TWO, THREE, FOUR, DAH, DAH, DAH.

DAH.

>> SO FAR HE'S THE ONLY TEACHER >> SO FAR HE'S THE ONLY TEACHER AT THE SCHOOL, GIVING LESSONS ON AT THE SCHOOL, GIVING LESSONS ON A WIDE VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS.

A WIDE VARIETY OF INSTRUMENTS.

HE SAID HE WAS NERVOUS TO OPEN HE SAID HE WAS NERVOUS TO OPEN ISOWN BUSINESS, BUT SAYS -- HIS ISOWN BUSINESS, BUT SAYS -- HIS OWN BUSINESS, BUT SAYS THE LOVE OWN BUSINESS, BUT SAYS THE LOVE HE HAS FOUND AND INTRODUCING THE HE HAS FOUND AND INTRODUCING THE PEOPLE TO THE MUSIC OF HIS PEOPLE TO THE MUSIC OF HIS CULTURE HAS BEEN PRICELESS.

CULTURE HAS BEEN PRICELESS.

>> SOMETIMES YOU TALK WITH KIDS >> SOMETIMES YOU TALK WITH KIDS AND KIDS DOESN'T KNOW A LOT OF AND KIDS DOESN'T KNOW A LOT OF MUSIC.

MUSIC.

OTHER PEOPLE KNOW MUSIC FROM OTHER PEOPLE KNOW MUSIC FROM '70S, FROM '80S, FROM '90S.

'70S, FROM '80S, FROM '90S.

BUT KIDS ONLY KNOW THE MUSIC BUT KIDS ONLY KNOW THE MUSIC THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS RIGHT NOW.

SO I TRY TO GUIDE THE NEXT SO I TRY TO GUIDE THE NEXT GENERATION TO FEEL THE MUSIC GENERATION TO FEEL THE MUSIC LIKE WE FEEL.

LIKE WE FEEL.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ OF.

OF.

♪ [SINGING] ♪ ♪ [SINGING] ♪ >> I WANT EVERY STUDENT THAT >> I WANT EVERY STUDENT THAT LOVE MUSIC IN GENERAL, NOT ONLY LOVE MUSIC IN GENERAL, NOT ONLY ONE KIND OF MUSIC.

ONE KIND OF MUSIC.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >> AND IF YOU JOINED THAT STORY, >> AND IF YOU JOINED THAT STORY, YOU CAN FIND MORE CONTENT ON OUR YOU CAN FIND MORE CONTENT ON OUR WEBSITE, EXPLORING THE RICH WEBSITE, EXPLORING THE RICH DIVERSITY OF LATINO CULTURE IN DIVERSITY OF LATINO CULTURE IN OUR REGION, AS "CONNECTING OUR REGION, AS "CONNECTING POINT" CELEBRATES HISPANIC POINT" CELEBRATES HISPANIC HERITAGE.

HERITAGE.

>>> THIS FALL YOU MAY NOTICE >>> THIS FALL YOU MAY NOTICE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN THE NATIVE HAUL AT THE SPRINGFIELD NATIVE HAUL AT THE SPRINGFIELD SCIENCE MUSEUM.

SCIENCE MUSEUM.

AREL MAY, A INTRILD RESIDENT, AREL MAY, A INTRILD RESIDENT, HAS CURATED AN EXHIBIT ENTITLED, HAS CURATED AN EXHIBIT ENTITLED, "WE'RE STILL HERE," WHICH HONORS "WE'RE STILL HERE," WHICH HONORS AND RECOGNIZES THE ONGOING AND RECOGNIZES THE ONGOING CULTURE OF THE NATIVE CULTURE OF THE NATIVE COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

COMMUNITIES IN OUR REGION.

I SPOKE WITH MAY TO LEARN MORE I SPOKE WITH MAY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HER PERSONAL CONNECTION TO ABOUT HER PERSONAL CONNECTION TO THE EXHIBIT AND HOW IT BRIDGES THE EXHIBIT AND HOW IT BRIDGES THE PAST TO THE PRESENT.

THE PAST TO THE PRESENT.

>> SO I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT A >> SO I DIDN'T TALK ABOUT IT A LOT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF LOT BECAUSE THERE WAS A LOT OF EXTINCTION PROPAGANDA AND EXTINCTION PROPAGANDA AND RHETORIC GOING AROUND.

RHETORIC GOING AROUND.

TO THIS DAY PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE TO THIS DAY PEOPLE DON'T BELIEVE THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE THAT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE ARE LIVING.

LIVING.

AND SO HOW I RECONNECT IS BY AND SO HOW I RECONNECT IS BY LEARNING FROM ALL THE PEOPLE AND LEARNING FROM ALL THE PEOPLE AND VOICES THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THAT VOICES THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THAT EXHIBIT TODAY AND I JUST TAKE MY EXHIBIT TODAY AND I JUST TAKE MY GUIDANCE FROM MY ELDERS.

GUIDANCE FROM MY ELDERS.

SO I'M STILL LEARNING.

SO I'M STILL LEARNING.

I'M STILL GETTING TO KNOW THE I'M STILL GETTING TO KNOW THE DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THE DIFFERENT DIFFERENT PEOPLE, THE DIFFERENT WAYS, THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES WAYS, THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT THEY LIVE IN, AND I'M JUST THAT THEY LIVE IN, AND I'M JUST RECONNECTING IN A DIFFERENT KIND RECONNECTING IN A DIFFERENT KIND OF WAY.

OF WAY.

I WAS INTRODUCED BACK INTO THE I WAS INTRODUCED BACK INTO THE CIRCLE MAYBE IN ABOUT LIKE 2008.

CIRCLE MAYBE IN ABOUT LIKE 2008.

-- 2018.

-- 2018.

SO REALLY JUST IMMERSING MYSELF SO REALLY JUST IMMERSING MYSELF AND RESEARCHING AND LEARNING AND RESEARCHING AND LEARNING MORE AND ESPECIALLY TALKING TO MORE AND ESPECIALLY TALKING TO MY ELDERS.

MY ELDERS.

>> YOU BRING UP SUCH A GOOD >> YOU BRING UP SUCH A GOOD POINT ABOUT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, POINT ABOUT PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT RHETORIC OF HAVING THAT RHETORIC OF EXTINCTION.

EXTINCTION.

AND I KNOW I HAVE -- MY HERITAGE AND I KNOW I HAVE -- MY HERITAGE IS FROM PUERTO RICO, AND SO FOR IS FROM PUERTO RICO, AND SO FOR THE LONGEST, I THOUGHT THAT THE THE LONGEST, I THOUGHT THAT THE INDIGENOUS THERE WERE EXTINCT.

INDIGENOUS THERE WERE EXTINCT.

AND SO IT IS REALLY AMAZING TO AND SO IT IS REALLY AMAZING TO LEARN THAT, NO, THESE INDIGENOUS LEARN THAT, NO, THESE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE STILL LIVE ON.

PEOPLE STILL LIVE ON.

WHAT WAS SOME OF THE RESEARCH WHAT WAS SOME OF THE RESEARCH THAT YOU HAD TO DO TO CURATE THAT YOU HAD TO DO TO CURATE THIS EXHIBIT?

THIS EXHIBIT?

>> I WAS WORKING WITH THE INNER >> I WAS WORKING WITH THE INNER TRIBAL COUNCIL BEFORE I STARTED TRIBAL COUNCIL BEFORE I STARTED THIS EXHIBIT.

THIS EXHIBIT.

AND THEN I STARTED MEETING MORE AND THEN I STARTED MEETING MORE PEOPLE.

PEOPLE.

SO SOME OF THE PEOPLE I'VE SO SOME OF THE PEOPLE I'VE ALREADY KNOWN AND WE HAVE A ALREADY KNOWN AND WE HAVE A MISSION AT THE INNER TRIBAL MISSION AT THE INNER TRIBAL COUNCIL AND THAT IS TO GET COUNCIL AND THAT IS TO GET NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S NATIVE AMERICAN PEOPLE'S RESEARCH AND CULTURAL SUPPORT RESEARCH AND CULTURAL SUPPORT CENTER.

CENTER.

THAT WAS STARTED BY MY COUSIN THAT WAS STARTED BY MY COUSIN GRAY HAWK WHO PASSED AWAY GRAY HAWK WHO PASSED AWAY SUDDENLY.

SUDDENLY.

AND SO I WAS ALREADY WORKING AND SO I WAS ALREADY WORKING WITH THAT INITIATIVE.

WITH THAT INITIATIVE.

THE PEOPLE THAT I HAD ADDED TO THE PEOPLE THAT I HAD ADDED TO THE EXHIBIT ARE JUST OTHER THE EXHIBIT ARE JUST OTHER VOICES WITH OTHER INITIATIVES IN VOICES WITH OTHER INITIATIVES IN THE NATIVE COMMUNITY.

THE NATIVE COMMUNITY.

SO I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT SO I REALLY WANTED TO HIGHLIGHT THAT LIVING EXPERIENCE AND WHAT THAT LIVING EXPERIENCE AND WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING FOR PEOPLE ARE DOING FOR CONTEMPORARY NATIVE ISSUES AND CONTEMPORARY NATIVE ISSUES AND CONTEMPORARY NATIVE LIFE.

CONTEMPORARY NATIVE LIFE.

SO THAT'S WHAT LED ME ON THAT.

SO THAT'S WHAT LED ME ON THAT.

>> I CAN IMAGINE THAT YOU KNOW, >> I CAN IMAGINE THAT YOU KNOW, NOT KNOWING AS MUCH WHEN YOU NOT KNOWING AS MUCH WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER ABOUT YOUR HERITAGE WERE YOUNGER ABOUT YOUR HERITAGE AND NOW CURATING THIS PROJECT, AND NOW CURATING THIS PROJECT, YOU MUST HAVE COME ACROSS SO YOU MUST HAVE COME ACROSS SO MANY INTERESTING FACTS OR MANY INTERESTING FACTS OR REVELATIONS.

REVELATIONS.

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF WHILE CURATING THIS YOURSELF WHILE CURATING THIS EXHIBIT?

EXHIBIT?

>> SO I REALIZED THE REASON WHY >> SO I REALIZED THE REASON WHY I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT MY NATIVE I COULDN'T TALK ABOUT MY NATIVE HERITAGE IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T HERITAGE IS BECAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW.

KNOW.

AND WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?

AND WHY DIDN'T I KNOW?

I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE WAS I DIDN'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE WAS AN INDIAN ACONDOPTION PROJECT AN INDIAN ACONDOPTION PROJECT THAT MY FAMILY HAD GONE THROUGH THAT MY FAMILY HAD GONE THROUGH BEFORE FOR GENERATIONS.

BEFORE FOR GENERATIONS.

MY GRANDPARENTS WAS THE END OF MY GRANDPARENTS WAS THE END OF IT BUT MY GRANDFATHER SUFFERED IT BUT MY GRANDFATHER SUFFERED SO MUCH IN A FOSTER HOME.

SO MUCH IN A FOSTER HOME.

THERE WERE 11 OF THEM AND THEY THERE WERE 11 OF THEM AND THEY WERE SEPARATED MOST OF THEIR WERE SEPARATED MOST OF THEIR LIFE.

LIFE.

AND THEN WHILE I WAS READING AND THEN WHILE I WAS READING THAT MY FAMILY HISTORY, I WAS THAT MY FAMILY HISTORY, I WAS OPENING YOU HAVE REF BOOKS WITH OPENING YOU HAVE REF BOOKS WITH STORIES JUST LIKE -- RESEARCH STORIES JUST LIKE -- RESEARCH BOOKS WITH STORIES JUST LIKE MY BOOKS WITH STORIES JUST LIKE MY FAMILY'S.

FAMILY'S.

AND IT BROKE MY HEART TO KNOW AND IT BROKE MY HEART TO KNOW THAT SO MANY KIDS WERE TAKEN, THAT SO MANY KIDS WERE TAKEN, NOT JUST BOARDING SCHOOLS AND NOT JUST BOARDING SCHOOLS AND RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, BUT IN RESIDENTIAL SCHOOLS, BUT IN FOSTER HOMES.

FOSTER HOMES.

AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE AND THAT'S WHERE THEY WERE STRIPPED OF THEIR CULTURE AND STRIPPED OF THEIR CULTURE AND THEIR ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

THEIR ABILITY TO TALK ABOUT IT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T KNOW.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I DIDN'T KNOW.

AND SO I LEARNED THAT I COULD AND SO I LEARNED THAT I COULD SPEAK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE I SPEAK ABOUT IT NOW BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED KNOW WHAT HAPPENED GENERATIONALLY.

GENERATIONALLY.

>> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT >> SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE EXHIBIT.

THE EXHIBIT.

I KNOW THAT IT BRIDGES THE PAST I KNOW THAT IT BRIDGES THE PAST TO THE PRESENT AND IT ALSO TO THE PRESENT AND IT ALSO TOUCHES ON TOPICS SUCH AS TOUCHES ON TOPICS SUCH AS RESILIENCE AND IDENTITY.

RESILIENCE AND IDENTITY.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ASPECTS IN WHAT ARE SOME OF THE ASPECTS IN THIS EXHIBIT THAT PEOPLE CAN THIS EXHIBIT THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT WHEN THEY VISIT?

EXPECT WHEN THEY VISIT?

>> EACH ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN MY >> EACH ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN MY EXHIBIT HAVE DIFFERENT STORIES.

EXHIBIT HAVE DIFFERENT STORIES.

AND THEY'RE WORKING ON DIFFERENT AND THEY'RE WORKING ON DIFFERENT INITIATIVES.

INITIATIVES.

ONE OF THE MOST HEART ERCHING ONE OF THE MOST HEART ERCHING ONES IS THE FIRST ONE THAT ONES IS THE FIRST ONE THAT YOU'LL SEE IN THE EXHIBIT AND YOU'LL SEE IN THE EXHIBIT AND HER NAME IS NIANA.

HER NAME IS NIANA.

SHE'S AN ARTIST WHO IS WORKING SHE'S AN ARTIST WHO IS WORKING ON A MISSING AND MURDERED ON A MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S PROJECT OR INDIGENOUS WOMEN'S PROJECT OR CAMPAIGN, IF YOU WILL, WHERE CAMPAIGN, IF YOU WILL, WHERE SHE'S PAINTING FAMILY MEMBERS SHE'S PAINTING FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE MISSING OR MURDERED.

WHO ARE MISSING OR MURDERED.

AND IT KIND OF CONNECTS TO ONE AND IT KIND OF CONNECTS TO ONE OF MY OTHER VOICES, WHO IS ALSO OF MY OTHER VOICES, WHO IS ALSO A PROTECTOR OF WOMAN AND HER A PROTECTOR OF WOMAN AND HER BAND.

BAND.

SO THIS STORY ABOUT WOMEN SO THIS STORY ABOUT WOMEN PROTECTING EACH OTHER AND PROTECTING EACH OTHER AND CAMPAIGNING FOR EACH OTHER WHEN CAMPAIGNING FOR EACH OTHER WHEN THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO DO IT BUT THERE'S NO ONE ELSE TO DO IT BUT US.

US.

AND HOW CAN WE -- HOW CAN OTHER AND HOW CAN WE -- HOW CAN OTHER WOMEN JOIN IN THIS FIGHT TO WOMEN JOIN IN THIS FIGHT TO PROTECT US IF THEY DON'T KNOW PROTECT US IF THEY DON'T KNOW THAT IT'S GOING ON?

THAT IT'S GOING ON?

BECAUSE OF THE EXTINCTION BECAUSE OF THE EXTINCTION RHETORIC.

RHETORIC.

SO THE BRIDGE IS THERE NOW.

SO THE BRIDGE IS THERE NOW.

>> UH-HUH.

>> UH-HUH.

>> BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE CAN SEE >> BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE CONTEMPORARY THAT THERE ARE CONTEMPORARY ISSUES LIKE MURDERED AND ISSUES LIKE MURDERED AND INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

INDIGENOUS WOMEN.

SO THE ARTIST THAT NIANA THAT'S SO THE ARTIST THAT NIANA THAT'S IN THE EXHIBIT PAINTS PORTRAITS IN THE EXHIBIT PAINTS PORTRAITS FOR THE FAMILIES TO USE FREE OF FOR THE FAMILIES TO USE FREE OF CHARGE ACROSS THE WHOLE NORTH CHARGE ACROSS THE WHOLE NORTH AMERICAN CONTINENT.

AMERICAN CONTINENT.

>> AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A >> AND I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT AND SO WHAT SPRINGFIELD RESIDENT AND SO WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO SEE THIS DOES IT MEAN TO YOU TO SEE THIS INSTITUTION, LIKE THE INSTITUTION, LIKE THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS, REALLY SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS, REALLY COMMIT TO RESTRUCTURING AND COMMIT TO RESTRUCTURING AND REMODELING THIS SPECIFIC -- REMODELING THIS SPECIFIC -- NATIVE AREA THAT THEY HAVE?

NATIVE AREA THAT THEY HAVE?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN TO YOU?

>> EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE >> EDUCATING THE PUBLIC ON THE LIVING CULTURE IS SUPER LIVING CULTURE IS SUPER IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEN OTHER IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEN OTHER AFRO INDIGENOUS WOMEN DON'T HAVE AFRO INDIGENOUS WOMEN DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN, WE'RE NOT HERE, TO EXPLAIN, WE'RE NOT HERE, WE'RE NOT EXTINCTION, EVERY DAY WE'RE NOT EXTINCTION, EVERY DAY OF THEIR LIVES.

OF THEIR LIVES.

SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT SO I THINK THAT IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY COMMIT TO DIVERSITY.

THAT THEY COMMIT TO DIVERSITY.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY RETHINK IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THEY RETHINK HOW STORIES ARE BEING TOLD.

HOW STORIES ARE BEING TOLD.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECLAIM IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE RECLAIM OUR NARRATIVE.

OUR NARRATIVE.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE'S AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THERE'S PROPER, AT QUAD REPRESENTATION.

PROPER, AT QUAD REPRESENTATION.

-- ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION.

-- ADEQUATE REPRESENTATION.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS, THE >>> AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS, THE LEGENDARY CHARLEMONT REGGAE LEGENDARY CHARLEMONT REGGAE FESTIVAL RETURNED TO THE TOWN FESTIVAL RETURNED TO THE TOWN FAIRGROUNDS THIS PAST SUMMER.

FAIRGROUNDS THIS PAST SUMMER.

WHILE THIS YEAR MARKED THE 25TH WHILE THIS YEAR MARKED THE 25TH TIME THE EVENT HAS BEEN HELD, TIME THE EVENT HAS BEEN HELD, FOR STEVEN AND BEN GOLDSHER, IT FOR STEVEN AND BEN GOLDSHER, IT WAS ONLY THEIR SECOND YEAR OF WAS ONLY THEIR SECOND YEAR OF ORGANIZING IT.

ORGANIZING IT.

"CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRIAN SULLIVAN MET UP WITH THIS FATHER SULLIVAN MET UP WITH THIS FATHER AND SON TEAM TO DISCUSS THIS AND SON TEAM TO DISCUSS THIS YEAR'S FESTIVAL AND THEIR PLANS YEAR'S FESTIVAL AND THEIR PLANS FOR ITS FUTURE.

FOR ITS FUTURE.

>> IT'S JUST A LITTLE AFTER >> IT'S JUST A LITTLE AFTER 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON ON WHAT 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON ON WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY HOT AND TURNED OUT TO BE A VERY HOT AND SUNNY SATURDAY HERE IN NORTHWEST SUNNY SATURDAY HERE IN NORTHWEST FRANKLIN COUNTY.

FRANKLIN COUNTY.

AND THE ECHOS OF SOUND CHECKS AND THE ECHOS OF SOUND CHECKS CAN BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE CAN BE HEARD THROUGHOUT THE CHARLEMONT FAIRGROUNDS.

CHARLEMONT FAIRGROUNDS.

AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS, THERE'S AFTER A TWO-YEAR HIATUS, THERE'S PROBABLY NO ONE MORE EXCITED TO PROBABLY NO ONE MORE EXCITED TO SEE IT BACK THAN THIS FATHER AND SEE IT BACK THAN THIS FATHER AND SON COMBO WHO COULD BE FOUND SON COMBO WHO COULD BE FOUND EARLY IN THE DAY MAKING SURE EARLY IN THE DAY MAKING SURE THAT ATTENDEES FOUND THEIR THAT ATTENDEES FOUND THEIR PARKING SPACES.

PARKING SPACES.

>> THERE'S MUSIC ALL DAY LONG.

>> THERE'S MUSIC ALL DAY LONG.

IT'S ALL GONNA BE AMAZING.

IT'S ALL GONNA BE AMAZING.

AS YOU CAN HEAR IN THE AS YOU CAN HEAR IN THE BACKGROUND, WE'RE JUST KICKING BACKGROUND, WE'RE JUST KICKING OFF THE DAY.

OFF THE DAY.

WE HAVE A BAND THAT'S BEEN WE HAVE A BAND THAT'S BEEN PLAYING HERE FOR YEARS.

PLAYING HERE FOR YEARS.

THEY'RE CALLED THE EQUALITS.

THEY'RE CALLED THE EQUALITS.

THEY'RE ONE OF THE LOCAL THEY'RE ONE OF THE LOCAL FAVORITES AND THEY'RE PUTTING ON FAVORITES AND THEY'RE PUTTING ON A SHOW ALREADY.

A SHOW ALREADY.

>> THE TOWN COVERS 26 1/2 MILES >> THE TOWN COVERS 26 1/2 MILES AND IS LOADED WITH NATURAL AND IS LOADED WITH NATURAL BEAUTY.

BEAUTY.

MUCH OF WHICH CAN BE FOUND RIGHT MUCH OF WHICH CAN BE FOUND RIGHT HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

HERE AT THE FAIRGROUNDS.

THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO TOSS THERE'S PLENTY OF ROOM TO TOSS THE BEER AROUND, SET UP AN THE BEER AROUND, SET UP AN EASEL, AND DO SOME PAINTING, OR EASEL, AND DO SOME PAINTING, OR SPREAD OUT SOME BLANKETS AND SPREAD OUT SOME BLANKETS AND OPEN UP UMBRELLAS.

OPEN UP UMBRELLAS.

MEANWHILE, THE TREES AND MEANWHILE, THE TREES AND MOUNTAINS THAT SERVE TO FORTIFY MOUNTAINS THAT SERVE TO FORTIFY THE 24-ACRE PARCEL OF LAND ALSO THE 24-ACRE PARCEL OF LAND ALSO HELPED ADD TO THE ACOUSTICS.

HELPED ADD TO THE ACOUSTICS.

>> YOU HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL >> YOU HAVE THESE BEAUTIFUL SCENERY OF MOUNTAINS AND WHEN SCENERY OF MOUNTAINS AND WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THE MUSIC BACK YOU LISTEN TO THE MUSIC BACK THERE, THE TREES ACTUALLY ECHO THERE, THE TREES ACTUALLY ECHO BACK TO YOU.

BACK TO YOU.

>> THE FIRST REGGAE FEST TOOK >> THE FIRST REGGAE FEST TOOK BLAISE HERE BACK IN 1985.

BLAISE HERE BACK IN 1985.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A AND THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF A GAP IN TIME AS THE NEXT ONE GAP IN TIME AS THE NEXT ONE DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL 1997.

DIDN'T HAPPEN UNTIL 1997.

BUT THE FESTIVAL HAD BEEN BUT THE FESTIVAL HAD BEEN RUNNING STEADY EVERY YEAR SINCE RUNNING STEADY EVERY YEAR SINCE THEN UP UNTIL THE '20 AND '21 THEN UP UNTIL THE '20 AND '21 FESTIVALS WERE CANCELED.

FESTIVALS WERE CANCELED.

BEN AND STEVE ORGANIZED THE MOST BEN AND STEVE ORGANIZED THE MOST RECENT ONE IN 2019 AND IT WAS RECENT ONE IN 2019 AND IT WAS THEIR FIRST TIME IN DOING SO.

THEIR FIRST TIME IN DOING SO.

AND WHILE THEY'RE HOPING THAT AND WHILE THEY'RE HOPING THAT THE LEARNING CURVE IS TRENDING THE LEARNING CURVE IS TRENDING IN A MORE POSITIVE FINANCIAL IN A MORE POSITIVE FINANCIAL DIRECTION THIS TIME, THEY SEE DIRECTION THIS TIME, THEY SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE.

THE BIGGER PICTURE.

>> THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THIS IS >> THE BUSINESS SIDE OF THIS IS REALLY TOUGH.

REALLY TOUGH.

WE LOST A LOT OF MONEY THE FIRST WE LOST A LOT OF MONEY THE FIRST TIME WE DID IT.

TIME WE DID IT.

THIS TIME WE WANT TO BREAK EVEN.

THIS TIME WE WANT TO BREAK EVEN.

AND IT'S REALLY -- THIS IS AND IT'S REALLY -- THIS IS REALLY A FESTIVAL ABOUT THE REALLY A FESTIVAL ABOUT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.

LOCAL COMMUNITY.

THERE'S A TREMENDOUS LOCAL THERE'S A TREMENDOUS LOCAL COMMUNITY OF REGGAE MUSICIANS.

COMMUNITY OF REGGAE MUSICIANS.

THEY VISIT OUR CLUB ALL THE THEY VISIT OUR CLUB ALL THE TIME.

TIME.

AND THEY LIVE HERE IN CHARLEMONT AND THEY LIVE HERE IN CHARLEMONT AND IN WINDAL AND THE VALLEY AND AND IN WINDAL AND THE VALLEY AND THIS IS ABOUT LOCAL BANDS.

THIS IS ABOUT LOCAL BANDS.

AND THEN WE HAVE COUPLE AND THEN WE HAVE COUPLE HEADLINERS, TOO.

HEADLINERS, TOO.

>> THE EVENT RAN FROM 1:30 IN >> THE EVENT RAN FROM 1:30 IN THE AFTERNOON UNTIL 8:00 THAT THE AFTERNOON UNTIL 8:00 THAT NIGHT.

NIGHT.

AND WE WERE THERE EARLY ENOUGH AND WE WERE THERE EARLY ENOUGH BEFORE THE GROUNDS COOT TOO BEFORE THE GROUNDS COOT TOO CROWDED -- GOT TOO CROWDED.

CROWDED -- GOT TOO CROWDED.

THAT WAS HANDY AVOIDING LINES AT THAT WAS HANDY AVOIDING LINES AT THE VENDORS.

THE VENDORS.

EVERYTHING FROM COTTON CANDY, EVERYTHING FROM COTTON CANDY, VEGAN PIZZA, BEER, OR SOME VEGAN PIZZA, BEER, OR SOME FILLIPINO STREET FOOD.

FILLIPINO STREET FOOD.

>> THANKS.

>> THANKS.

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> CAN'T FORGET TO SUPPORT THE >> CAN'T FORGET TO SUPPORT THE LOCAL VENDORS.

LOCAL VENDORS.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THIS EVENT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR 25 YEARS NOW.

25 YEARS NOW.

AND WITH THE TOWN THAT'S MADE UP AND WITH THE TOWN THAT'S MADE UP OF MORE THAN 1200 PEOPLE, IT'S OF MORE THAN 1200 PEOPLE, IT'S ONE OF THE FEW DAYS OUT OF THE ONE OF THE FEW DAYS OUT OF THE YEAR THAT THE POPULATION YEAR THAT THE POPULATION INCREASES BY ABOUT 500.

INCREASES BY ABOUT 500.

THOSE NUMBERS EVENTUALLY ARRIVED THOSE NUMBERS EVENTUALLY ARRIVED AS THE DAY WENT ON, WHICH AS THE DAY WENT ON, WHICH TRANSLATED TO MORE FEET THE TRANSLATED TO MORE FEET THE DANCE FLOOR AND MORE PEOPLE DANCE FLOOR AND MORE PEOPLE FEELING A CONNECTION TO THE FEELING A CONNECTION TO THE SWEET SOUNDS BEING DELIVERED BY SWEET SOUNDS BEING DELIVERED BY THE MUSICIANS ON STAGE.

THE MUSICIANS ON STAGE.

>> GOOD MUSIC STIMULATE THE >> GOOD MUSIC STIMULATE THE BRAIN.

BRAIN.

IT'S A WAVE.

IT'S A WAVE.

AND IF YOU CAN CONNECT TO THE AND IF YOU CAN CONNECT TO THE WAVE, YOU FEEL THE ENERGY OF WAVE, YOU FEEL THE ENERGY OF WHAT THE ARTIST IS TRYING TO WHAT THE ARTIST IS TRYING TO SAY.

SAY.

AND ONCE YOU CONNECT, YOU KNOW AND ONCE YOU CONNECT, YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY HUMAN BEING YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY HUMAN BEING FEELING IT.

FEELING IT.

>> THE CHARL LONT REGGAE FEST >> THE CHARL LONT REGGAE FEST HAS ALWAYS BEEN A ONE-DAY HAS ALWAYS BEEN A ONE-DAY ENDEAVOR, BUT ORGANIZERS ARE ENDEAVOR, BUT ORGANIZERS ARE TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF MAKING TOYING WITH THE IDEA OF MAKING THIS A MULTI-DAY EVENT IN THE THIS A MULTI-DAY EVENT IN THE FUTURE.

FUTURE.

AND THE MOTIVATION THE DO SO AND THE MOTIVATION THE DO SO ISN'T SOLELY DRIVEN BY THE ISN'T SOLELY DRIVEN BY THE BOTTOM LINE.

BOTTOM LINE.

>> THE REAL REASON WE DO THIS IS >> THE REAL REASON WE DO THIS IS FOR THE LOVE OF THE MUSIC AND FOR THE LOVE OF THE MUSIC AND THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND THE LOVE OF THE COMMUNITY AROUND IT.

IT.

I GET PEOPLE TELLING ME ALL THE I GET PEOPLE TELLING ME ALL THE TIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT TIME, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THIS EXPERIENCE.

EXPERIENCE.

AND WE'RE ALL ABOUT PUTTING ON AND WE'RE ALL ABOUT PUTTING ON AN EXPERIENCE, CREATING A SPACE AN EXPERIENCE, CREATING A SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE FEELINGS FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE FEELINGS WHERE THEY GET TO HAVE FUN OR WHERE THEY GET TO HAVE FUN OR MAYBE THEY GET TO DO SOMETHING MAYBE THEY GET TO DO SOMETHING THEY'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

THEY'VE NEVER DONE BEFORE.

AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CREATE AND WE'RE JUST TRYING TO CREATE THAT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A THAT SPACE FOR PEOPLE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME.

GOOD TIME.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING >>> EVERY WEEK "CONNECTING POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, POINT" EXPLORES THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND, BUT IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

IT DOESN'T STOP THERE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE ANYTIME FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND FOR EXCLUSIVE FEATURES AND CONTENT.

CONTENT.

ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING AN ORTH ON HIS WAY TO BECOMING AN ORTH DON'TTIVITY, CHARLEMONT REGGAE DON'TTIVITY, CHARLEMONT REGGAE FESTIVAL CO-WORKER STEVEN FESTIVAL CO-WORKER STEVEN GOLDSHER WAS INTRODUCED TO AND GOLDSHER WAS INTRODUCED TO AND FELL IN LOVE WITH REGGAE MUSIC.

FELL IN LOVE WITH REGGAE MUSIC.

AND AS HE EXPLAINS TO AND AS HE EXPLAINS TO "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRINE, IT "CONNECTING POINT'S" BRINE, IT WAS ALL THANKS TO ONE OF HIS -- WAS ALL THANKS TO ONE OF HIS -- BRIAN SULLIVAN, IT WAS ALL BRIAN SULLIVAN, IT WAS ALL THANKS TO ONE OF HIS COLLEGE THANKS TO ONE OF HIS COLLEGE PROFESSORS.

PROFESSORS.

>> ONE OF THE FIRST EXPERIENCES >> ONE OF THE FIRST EXPERIENCES I HAD IN COLLEGE WAS TO SEE A I HAD IN COLLEGE WAS TO SEE A MOVIE CALLED "THE HARDER THEY MOVIE CALLED "THE HARDER THEY COME."

COME."

1976.

1976.

THERE WAS A SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR THERE WAS A SOCIOLOGY PROFESSOR WHO USED TO LEAD TRIPS TO WHO USED TO LEAD TRIPS TO JAMAICA AND GOT A TASTE OF WHAT JAMAICA AND GOT A TASTE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THIS LITTLE WAS GOING ON THIS LITTLE CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

CARIBBEAN ISLAND.

>> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL >> YOU CAN FIND THAT DIGITAL EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT EXCLUSIVE ONLINE RIGHT NOW AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

AFTER RECOGNIZING THE AGEISM AFTER RECOGNIZING THE AGEISM THAT MATURE WOMEN ARTISTS FACE, THAT MATURE WOMEN ARTISTS FACE, TERRY ROONEY DECIDED TO CURATE TERRY ROONEY DECIDED TO CURATE AN EXHIBITION BRINGING ATTENTION AN EXHIBITION BRINGING ATTENTION TO THEIR TALENT AND WISDOM.

TO THEIR TALENT AND WISDOM.

THE EXHIBIT IS ENTITLED, "THE THE EXHIBIT IS ENTITLED, "THE W.O.W.

SHOW," WHICH STANDS FOR W.O.W.

SHOW," WHICH STANDS FOR WILD ORNERY WOMEN, WISER WILD ORNERY WOMEN, WISER OVERLOOKED WOMEN, AND IS ON OVERLOOKED WOMEN, AND IS ON DISPLAY THROUGH OCTOBER 23RD AT DISPLAY THROUGH OCTOBER 23RD AT WORKSHOP 13'S ARTWORKS GALLERY WORKSHOP 13'S ARTWORKS GALLERY IN WARE, MASSACHUSETTS.

IN WARE, MASSACHUSETTS.

I SPOKE WITH ROONEY AND ARTIST I SPOKE WITH ROONEY AND ARTIST ANNE BURTON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT ANNE BURTON TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE SHOW AND IT WHAT MEANS FOR THE SHOW AND IT WHAT MEANS FOR THEM -- TO THEM FOR THEIR WORK THEM -- TO THEM FOR THEIR WORK AND VOICES TO NO LONGER GO AND VOICES TO NO LONGER GO UNNOTICED.

UNNOTICED.

>> I WAS BEING TAUGHT BY MEN >> I WAS BEING TAUGHT BY MEN WHOSE WORK WAS IN THE MUSEUM OF WHOSE WORK WAS IN THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART.

MODERN ART.

AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE AND JUST TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF THE WAY THEY LOOKED AT ME, I OF THE WAY THEY LOOKED AT ME, I WAS WORKING ON A PIECE OF WAS WORKING ON A PIECE OF SCULPTURE AND A VERY FAMOUS SCULPTURE AND A VERY FAMOUS ARTIST WAS BEHIND ME.

ARTIST WAS BEHIND ME.

AND HE AND ANOTHER MAN, RATHER AND HE AND ANOTHER MAN, RATHER THAN LOOKING AT WHAT I WAS THAN LOOKING AT WHAT I WAS WORKING ON, WERE EVALUATING MY WORKING ON, WERE EVALUATING MY BEHIND AND COMPARING IT TO THE BEHIND AND COMPARING IT TO THE DONNA DONNA DONATELLO DAVID BEHIND.

DONATELLO DAVID BEHIND.

SO I WAS ADVISED BY ONE OF SO I WAS ADVISED BY ONE OF THE -- A VERY TALENTED PERSON, THE -- A VERY TALENTED PERSON, BUT YOU SHOULD GET A TEACHING BUT YOU SHOULD GET A TEACHING DEGREE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WOMEN DEGREE BECAUSE YOU KNOW WOMEN DON'T MAKE STRONG ENOUGH WORK TO DON'T MAKE STRONG ENOUGH WORK TO BE OF MUSEUM QUALITY.

BE OF MUSEUM QUALITY.

SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOMEN SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT WOMEN IN THE '50S, '60S, AND '70S, AND IN THE '50S, '60S, AND '70S, AND '80S, AND '90S, UNTIL REALLY '80S, AND '90S, UNTIL REALLY THIS CENTURY, EXPERIENCED, THIS CENTURY, EXPERIENCED, NOT -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU NOT -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CAN SEE IT, BUT I'M WEARING A CAN SEE IT, BUT I'M WEARING A PIECE OF JEWELRY THAT I MADE.

PIECE OF JEWELRY THAT I MADE.

I WAS AT A WORKSHOP.

I WAS AT A WORKSHOP.

I WAS AT THE TIME 75.

I WAS AT THE TIME 75.

ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE AT THE ALL OF THE OTHER PEOPLE AT THE WORKSHOP WERE YOUNGER.

WORKSHOP WERE YOUNGER.

THE MAN TEACHING IT DIDN'T THE MAN TEACHING IT DIDN'T ADDRESS ME, DIDN'T LOOK AT ME.

ADDRESS ME, DIDN'T LOOK AT ME.

HE LOOKED THROUGH ME.

HE LOOKED THROUGH ME.

AND WHEN WE SHOWED OUR WORK AT AND WHEN WE SHOWED OUR WORK AT THE END OF THE TWO-WEEK THE END OF THE TWO-WEEK WORKSHOP, HE STOPPED DEAD IN WORKSHOP, HE STOPPED DEAD IN FRONT OF THIS PIECE AND SAID, FRONT OF THIS PIECE AND SAID, WOW.

WOW.

DID YOU MAKE THAT?

DID YOU MAKE THAT?

AND I SAID, YES.

AND I SAID, YES.

AND HE LOOKED AT ME AGAIN AND HE AND HE LOOKED AT ME AGAIN AND HE SAID, HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS SAID, HAVE YOU BEEN IN THIS CLASS?

CLASS?

NEED I SAY MORE?

NEED I SAY MORE?

WE WERE IGNORED WHEN WE WERE WE WERE IGNORED WHEN WE WERE YOUNG.

YOUNG.

NOW THAT WE'RE OLDER, WE'RE NOW THAT WE'RE OLDER, WE'RE LOOKED RIGHT THROUGH.

LOOKED RIGHT THROUGH.

WE ARE INVISIBLE.

WE ARE INVISIBLE.

ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET SILVER ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU GET SILVER HAIR.

HAIR.

IT -- IT FEELS THAT YOU ARE IT -- IT FEELS THAT YOU ARE BEING LOOKED THROUGH.

BEING LOOKED THROUGH.

>> AND I KNOW THAT THIS EXHIBIT >> AND I KNOW THAT THIS EXHIBIT IS FEATURING THE WORK OF SEVERAL IS FEATURING THE WORK OF SEVERAL ARTISTS, A REALLY TALENTED ARTISTS, A REALLY TALENTED GROUP, THAT ARE EXPRESSING THEIR GROUP, THAT ARE EXPRESSING THEIR OUTRAGE IN AN ARTISTIC WAY.

OUTRAGE IN AN ARTISTIC WAY.

TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF THE SOCIETAL ISSUES THAT THIS SOCIETAL ISSUES THAT THIS EXHIBITION ADDRESSES.

EXHIBITION ADDRESSES.

>> WELL, THERE'S SEVERAL ARTISTS >> WELL, THERE'S SEVERAL ARTISTS IN THIS SHOW, INCLUDING IN THIS SHOW, INCLUDING GABRIELLE SENSEA, HOLLY MURRAY, GABRIELLE SENSEA, HOLLY MURRAY, ANN BURTON, WHO HAVE BEEN ANN BURTON, WHO HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IN ADDRESSING CLIMATE CHANGE IN THEIR WORK.

THEIR WORK.

GABRIELLE WENT ON AN EXPLORATION GABRIELLE WENT ON AN EXPLORATION OF ANTARCTICA AND SHE WORE HER OF ANTARCTICA AND SHE WORE HER WEDDING GOWN AND CRAWLED IN THE WEDDING GOWN AND CRAWLED IN THE SNOW AND IS TRYING TO BRING SNOW AND IS TRYING TO BRING ATTENTION TO ALL THE MELTING ICE ATTENTION TO ALL THE MELTING ICE AND SNOW AROUND HER.

AND SNOW AROUND HER.

AND SHE IS -- WANTS TO DO A AND SHE IS -- WANTS TO DO A PIECE OF A HUGE ICEBERG AND SHE PIECE OF A HUGE ICEBERG AND SHE DID A PIECE LIKE THIS IN DID A PIECE LIKE THIS IN BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM WHERE IT WAS BRATTLEBORO MUSEUM WHERE IT WAS UP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN UP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS AND THEN AT THE END OF IT, SHE WANTS TO AT THE END OF IT, SHE WANTS TO ERASE THE ICEBERG.

ERASE THE ICEBERG.

I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL I THINK IT'S A WONDERFUL METAPHOR OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO METAPHOR OF WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR PLANET.

OUR PLANET.

>> AND THEN, ANNE, YOU'RE ALSO >> AND THEN, ANNE, YOU'RE ALSO ONE OF THE FEATURED ARTISTS.

ONE OF THE FEATURED ARTISTS.

TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR TALK TO US ABOUT SOME OF YOUR ARTWORK THAT VIEWERS WILL BE ARTWORK THAT VIEWERS WILL BE ABLE TO SEE AND THE ISSUES THAT ABLE TO SEE AND THE ISSUES THAT YOU CHOSE TO ADDRESS.

YOU CHOSE TO ADDRESS.

>> WELL, I ALSO CHOSE TO ADDRESS >> WELL, I ALSO CHOSE TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE AND -- AND THE CLIMATE CHANGE AND -- AND THE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE FACT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE IN NEED OF COMING INLAND.

IN NEED OF COMING INLAND.

THEY WILL BE IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE THEY WILL BE IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE THEY'LL BE OVERWHELMED BY THE THEY'LL BE OVERWHELMED BY THE WARMING OCEAN.

WARMING OCEAN.

AND THE OTHER THING I'M AND THE OTHER THING I'M ADDRESSING IN MY PIECE IS THAT ADDRESSING IN MY PIECE IS THAT UNDER THE WARMING OCEAN IS UNDER THE WARMING OCEAN IS PLASTIC THAT WE'VE DISCARDED.

PLASTIC THAT WE'VE DISCARDED.

SO I HAVE VERY PURPOSEFULLY PUT SO I HAVE VERY PURPOSEFULLY PUT A MIRROR IN BACK OF MY PIECE SO A MIRROR IN BACK OF MY PIECE SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THEMSELVES THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THEMSELVES IN IT AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE IN IT AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE ARE THE CAUSE AND THAT WE HAVE TO THE CAUSE AND THAT WE HAVE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

>> SO I KNOW IT'S SEVERAL >> SO I KNOW IT'S SEVERAL ARTWORK AND PECES IN THIS ARTWORK AND PECES IN THIS EXHIBIT.

EXHIBIT.

THERE MUST BE SO MANY DIFFERENT THERE MUST BE SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS TO LOOK AT.

THINGS TO LOOK AT.

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE WHAT ARE SOME THINGS THAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT TO SEE WHEN THEY CAN EXPECT TO SEE WHEN THEY VISIT THE EXHIBITION?

VISIT THE EXHIBITION?

>> THERE ARE MANY PIECES THAT >> THERE ARE MANY PIECES THAT I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

I'D LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU.

ONE IS BELINDA LYON ZUKER.

ONE IS BELINDA LYON ZUKER.

SHE IS A BLACK WOMAN WHO DOES SHE IS A BLACK WOMAN WHO DOES THESE DOLLS.

THESE DOLLS.

HER ANCESTORS CAME FROM THE HER ANCESTORS CAME FROM THE GULAG SECTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

GULAG SECTION OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

AND SHE DID THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE AND SHE DID THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE THAT HAS A FLAG FROM A PARADE THAT HAS A FLAG FROM A PARADE FROM 1865 WHEN NEVADA BECAME A FROM 1865 WHEN NEVADA BECAME A STATE.

STATE.

IT IS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT IS ALSO THE FIRST YEAR THAT JUNETEENTH WAS CELEBRATED.

JUNETEENTH WAS CELEBRATED.

AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR AS AND IT'S THE SAME YEAR AS BELINDA'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS BELINDA'S GREAT-GRANDMOTHER WAS BORN.

BORN.

THE FIRST ONE IN HER FAMILY THAT THE FIRST ONE IN HER FAMILY THAT WAS NOT A SLAVE.

WAS NOT A SLAVE.

ANOTHER PIECE I'D LIKE TO BRING ANOTHER PIECE I'D LIKE TO BRING ATTENTION TO IS LYNN HORAN WHO ATTENTION TO IS LYNN HORAN WHO HAS THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE BASED HAS THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE BASED ON THE SORRY BOARD AND SHE'S IN ON THE SORRY BOARD AND SHE'S IN A WHEELCHAIR LOOKING AT SOME A WHEELCHAIR LOOKING AT SOME STAIRS THAT SHE CANNOT CLIMB.

STAIRS THAT SHE CANNOT CLIMB.

ALSO, MOLLY KELLOGG, WHO DID ALSO, MOLLY KELLOGG, WHO DID THESE LUSCIOUS PAINTINGS OF THESE LUSCIOUS PAINTINGS OF USE MESSY AND WILD HAIRDOS AND USE MESSY AND WILD HAIRDOS AND NAKED TO SHOW THE WOMEN'S MAGIC NAKED TO SHOW THE WOMEN'S MAGIC AND THEIR STRENGTH.

AND THEIR STRENGTH.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT >> WHAT DO YOU THINK IT IS ABOUT ART THAT'S ABLE TO REALLY BRING ART THAT'S ABLE TO REALLY BRING HOME THESE ISSUES AND KIND OF HOME THESE ISSUES AND KIND OF CONNECT PEOPLE TO THEM?

CONNECT PEOPLE TO THEM?

HOW IS ART A POWERFUL MEDIUM IN HOW IS ART A POWERFUL MEDIUM IN THAT WAY?

THAT WAY?

>> ART HELPS THE VIEWER SEE THE >> ART HELPS THE VIEWER SEE THE WORLD THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES.

WORLD THROUGH DIFFERENT EYES.

I THINK IT CAN ALSO BE A WAY OF I THINK IT CAN ALSO BE A WAY OF SPEAKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE TO SPEAKING ANOTHER LANGUAGE TO PEOPLE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO PEOPLE AND TO ENCOURAGE THEM TO SEE THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT.

SEE THINGS IN A NEW LIGHT.

>> SO AFTER BEING OVERLOOKED AND >> SO AFTER BEING OVERLOOKED AND DISMISSED FOR SO LONG, NOW THAT DISMISSED FOR SO LONG, NOW THAT YOUR VOICES ARE FINALLY BEING YOUR VOICES ARE FINALLY BEING HEARD AND YOUR INSIGHTS ARE HEARD AND YOUR INSIGHTS ARE BEING APPRECIATED AND BEING APPRECIATED AND CELEBRATED, WHAT UNDERSTANDING CELEBRATED, WHAT UNDERSTANDING OR TAKEAWAY WOULD YOU LIKE OR TAKEAWAY WOULD YOU LIKE VIEWERS TO LEAVE WITH AFTER VIEWERS TO LEAVE WITH AFTER SEEING THIS EXHIBITION?

SEEING THIS EXHIBITION?

>> THAT WOMEN ARE JUST AS >> THAT WOMEN ARE JUST AS TALENTED AS MEN.

TALENTED AS MEN.

THAT WE HAVE A UNIQUE VIEW THAT THAT WE HAVE A UNIQUE VIEW THAT MEN DON'T HAVE.

MEN DON'T HAVE.

WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCES OF WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCES OF RAISING FAMILY, TAKING CARE OF RAISING FAMILY, TAKING CARE OF THE HOME.

THE HOME.

BUT I THINK WOMEN ALSO ARE THE BUT I THINK WOMEN ALSO ARE THE HEART OF OUR COUNTRY, THE HEART HEART OF OUR COUNTRY, THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY.

OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND I HOPE THAT THAT COMES OUT AND I HOPE THAT THAT COMES OUT IN THE SHOW.

IN THE SHOW.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS >>> AND THAT DOES IT FOR THIS EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

EDITION OF "CONNECTING POINT."

REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS FIND ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW ALL OF THE STORIES THAT YOU SAW IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS IN THIS EPISODE, AS WELL AS EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY EXCLUSIVE FEATURES, DIGITAL-ONLY CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE CONTENT, AND SO MUCH MORE ONLINE ANYTIME AT ANYTIME AT NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

NEPM.ORG/CONNECTINGPOINT.

OUR THANKS TO THE SPRINGFIELD OUR THANKS TO THE SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

MUSEUMS FOR HOSTING US TODAY.

AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AND PLEASE BE SURE TO JOIN US AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR AGAIN EVERY WEEK RIGHT HERE FOR MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, MORE STORIES OF THE CREATIVITY, CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT CULTURE, AND COMMUNITY, THAT MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

MAKE US WESTERN NEW ENGLAND.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

I'M ZYDALIS BAUER.

THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE THANKS FOR WATCHING AND TAKE CARE.

CARE.

>>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING >>> SUPPORT FOR "CONNECTING POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR POINT" PROVIDED BY OUR CONTRIBUTING VIEWERS.