In recognition of Native American Heritage Month in November, MassLive asked readers to identify people who are leaders from the Indigenous community throughout the state, working to make a difference in their own area of interest, be it politics, education, business or the arts.
MassLive will publish profiles of these leaders through November. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change.
Akuahah Wheaton. (Scott Foster Photography)Scott Foster Photography
Akuahah Wheaton
Age: “Mature, experienced, wise and a lady who never discloses her age,” she said.
Community: Boston, Brookline and Central Massachusetts
Her story: Wheaton, a member of the Nipmuc Nation, grew up as part of one of the only Nipmuc families living in the Boston area, with the majority located in Central and Western Massachusetts. At the age of 21, she began working with the tribe to advance their standing in Massachusetts, where they have lived for thousands of years.
Wheaton explained that while the tribe originally spanned about two-thirds of the land that is now Massachusetts, today it only controls about 3.5 acres in Grafton, the Hassanamesit Reservation. In 1990, Wheaton decided to work on helping her tribe acquire a larger tract of land to establish a permanent reservation where they can gather and preserve their culture.
“No worthier cause exists than for me to help my tribe … to preserve and practice our culture and pass it on to our children and beyond the next seven generations,” Wheaton said. “It is ripe and time to meet this goal.”
She holds a bachelor’s degree in history and a secondary education certificate from Clark University and a master’s degree in educational administration and a law degree from Boston College. She has worked business and in funding and administration at the local, state and federal government levels.
In her words: “Do not give up. It will come.”
We’re always open to hear about more inspiring people. If you’d like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form.
