About Juneteenth
Celebrates the end of slavery
Juneteenth – also known as Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day and Emancipation Day – commemorates the end of slavery in the United States.
A blend of the words June and nineteenth, it marks June 19, 1865: the day that Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3, proclaiming that the enslaved African Americans there were free.
Planned Children's Activities
Doll Making and Trading
“We honor the African traders who interacted with the Indigenous tribal nations long before European settlers landed on these shores.”
In order to incorporate the trading of goods between the Indigenous People and African traders
Making Corn Husk Dolls and Newspaper Dolls with a Trading Post
The idea would be you make one you take one and there is a lesson in reciprocity and trading. Children can make a doll and leave it for another child, after completing, they may choose a doll that is made to take with them.
Painting with Herbs and Plants
“By the beginning of the nineteenth century, Europeans and Africans living in America joined with Native Americans, creating plant-based therapies to care for the body. The Shakers, at Canterbury and other villages, not only adopted some of these therapies but also refined and sold their own remedies.”
In order to honor the plant-based therapies and healing, this activity introduces plants and herbs to children and many different uses. Making paint brushes, painting with them either free painting or painting a printable picture.
Hand Drum Making
“Traditionally the drum was the heartbeat and soul of African communities, thus holding deep historic and symbolic significance. The drums herald political and social events and ceremonies of birth, death, and marriage. They spark courtships, home-coming and going, and accompany religious rites and rituals that call up ancestral spirits while creating an atmosphere that promotes healing and social resilience.”
In honoring the tradition and significance of the drum, crafting small hand drums for the kids to play along with drum circles and to take home and create. Drums will be constructed with biodegradable containers and balloons and decorated how each child sees fit.