Darlene will educate the general public about differences of tribal crafts across Turtle Island by presenting different moccasin styles and construction.

Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) is the Education Coordinator at The Institute for American Indian Studies and is active in the Schaghticoke Women’s Traditional Council. She is a member of Connecticut’s Storytelling Center and serves on the board of the Connecticut League of Historical Organizations and the Hammonassett Festival planning committee. Although she has taught elsewhere, this will be her first visit to MKIM and she will present an interactive discussion on a variety of tribal moccasins, their construction, and decorations

Along with her role as an educator, she is also Traditional Native American Storyteller preserving oral traditions by word of mouth as a means of passing down cultural knowledge and values. Her mission is to connect the stories passed down from generation to generation to archaeological discoveries, giving voice to the objects. These oral traditions can be used as a tool to validate or challenge academic knowledge and give shared authority to historically marginalized communities.

Darlene’s style of teaching from a Native American’s point of view allows children and adults the opportunity to broaden their perspectives for a new understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ lives, both in the past and in the present. Her work brings awareness to impact that stereotypes and myths have on the perception of other cultures as well as the legacies of native contact with other groups.

Cost: $15.00 per Member and $20.00 per Non-Member

Please call 603-456-2600 to reserve a place for this event.