An unusual and fascinating group of contemporary art objects that contain a strawberry motif, from the Pequot Museum’s permanent collection, which unveils the cosmology and symbolism of the Iroquois. Contained in this exhibit are several objects that are not usually displayed so it is a great sneak-peek at some of the permanent collections that visitors do not get to see on a daily basis. Enjoy!

The strawberry holds cultural, spiritual and medicinal significance for the Iroquois people. It is the first berry of the season - a food from the Creator’s world - heralding the warmth and abundance of summer. It is at once a link to the Sky World as well as an anchor to Turtle Island (North America) and is honored by its own thanksgiving feast. More than a simple food it has been used as a blood tonic, women’s medicine, and a symbol of friendship.

The importance of this berry can be found within ceremony and tradition as described in the Great Law of the Iroquois as well as the Oneida Thanksgiving Opening Prayer. As stated in the Opening Prayer, “In our Creation story, it says this berry originally came from the Creator’s world. This day is set aside to make a strawberry to be used as a medicine. Prior to drinking it we are to give thanks to our Creator for all the things he has given to us.”

It is the purpose of this exhibit to explore the artistic representations of the strawberry produced by Iroquois artists and as seen in the permanent collections of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center. For these artists the strawberry is used not just as a decorative element on clothing and household goods but it is utilized as a continuation of traditions rooted in history of generations. The Iroquois artists in this exhibit use the strawberry as a prominent cultural symbol in their contemporary artworks.

The following online exhibit was created by Jennifer Pictou (Micmac), former employee of the Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center.