NOSAPOCKET: We're First Light People; People of the First Light [Wampanoag]. And there's the teaching about seeing the first light of the day is like a new thought of the Creator.
And so for us to tune in to the Creator, to see if we can hear and understand the new thought. So it's an ever-evolving Creator. It’s not – So it keeps us very present. It also keeps the brain fresh; the spirit's always open.
We know that those same new thoughts are brightening, and they're going to grow across the land. So sometimes we would add prayers to it. So it goes off and affects in a good way to the rest of the continent, or the world, for that matter.
ANTHONY TRUJILLO: Can you tell me a little bit about your decision to accept this, the commission for this piece that's going to be in the Divinity School?
NOSAPOCKET: Mm hmm. Well, when I was approached about the potential for the commission, it was described to me as a desire to have an Indigenous presence in the school, in the Swartz Hall, in particular. And yeah, I agree that yeah, there should be an Indigenous presence there. I have known that there are other Native people that have gone to school there.
ANTHONY TRUJILLO: Mm hm.
NOSAPOCKET: Sometimes I would go and I'd welcome them to the school. To the area, really.
ANTHONY TRUJILLO: Mm hmm.
NOSAPOCKET: Because I know what it's like to be away from home and away from the elders and away from the children, and land. So, I thought OK, this could be there—that's pretty much what made the decision for me. As well as a respect for Indigenous spirituality and spiritual practices. I think a piece of pottery, per se, is that. But that in a school that is dedicated to religious studies, I thought, sure. Include us as well.