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Our Story

Sassafras is an Indigenous Wôpanâak nonprofit in Aquinnah, MA on the island of Nôepe, founded in 2003. Our mission is to reconnect people to our mother the earth, restore Indigenous ways of life and to cultivate responsibility, leadership, and truth.

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Sassafras is located on land that has been in the care of the Vanderhoop family and the Wôpanâak people for millennia, with forests, fields, streams, trails, and a wetu in our main camp.

 

Sassafras gives preference to Indigenous/BIPOC youth and adults in participation and hiring. We offer full tuition coverage options through our Repair Fund. Our board of directors are Aquinnah Wôpanâak community leaders.

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Our founders are David Two Arrows Vanderhoop, an Aquinnah Wôpanâak elder and his spouse. David was born and raised traditionally in Aquinnah and is an avid hunter, fisherman, and open fire chef. David is a storyteller and speaks out on decolonization, truth telling, cultural appropriation, racism, Wôpanâak history, and traditional knowledge. 

 

Co-founder Saskia Vanderhoop is a mentor, speaker, organizer and naturalist. She was born and raised in a little village in the Netherlands, where her love of the earth is rooted. She loves working outdoors with people of all ages and speaking truth to power to respect the first people of this continent.

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Aknowledgement

Sassafras Earth Education acknowledges the following:

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  • Nôepe is Aquinnah Wôpanâak territory

  • The entire US/Canada is Indigenous territory

  • The destruction and occupation of Indigenous land and waters

  • The destruction of Indigenous peoples and their communities the world over

  • The taking of Indigenous teachings in the form of cultural appropriation

  • The ongoing destruction, oppression, poverty and conflict resulting from colonialism

  • The enslavement of peoples of the African continent and Turtle Island

  • The theft of Indigenous children and separation of families

  • The evil caused by racism, a mental illness

  • Our Mother Earth’s environmental destruction, pollution, habitat and species loss

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