New Exhibits at Exeter’s Tomaquag Museum Serve to Educate, Empower, and Engage

As the United States prepares for its 250th anniversary, the Tomaquag Museum, Rhode Island’s only Indigenous-led museum, is recognizing the milestone not with a celebration, but with a reckoning. The museum, which educates visitors about Southern New England’s Indigenous community, is preparing a full overhaul of its museum space. Designed in partnership with Smoke Sygnals, an Indigenous-owned exhibit design firm, the new exhibits will bring to light truths that may have long been avoided.

“Visitors will see completely new exhibits that speak to our relationship to this anniversary and the stories we feel must be told,” says Education Manager Chrystal Mars Baker. Among them are stories about the complicated roles Indigenous people played during the Revolutionary War, when communities faced impossible decisions about how to deal with conflict breaking out on their soil. Baker says storytelling is vital because it allows people to reclaim agency over how their history is told. This idea is reflected in the museum’s 2026 theme: “Revolution, Asserting Sovereignty.”

“The Revolution and change in government resulted in a lot of loss for many of our people,” says Baker. “But there’s also resilience and resistance. There is a continuation of our culture in the midst of all that negative history.” Baker says that one powerful way native people assert their sovereignty is through writing. “It’s important that stories be told not just through our lens, but through our perspective. We’re making sure we’re visible in these changing times, asserting what we want for our future, and replacing myths taught in classrooms with the truth of how our people continue to build this nation.”

The year’s theme will be reflected in the museum’s Lunch and Learn virtual series, which will take place on the fourth Monday of every month. “Each session has a different speaker. Some of them are authors, others are historians,” Baker explains. “I can’t wait to hear how each presenter interprets the theme.” The museum also plans to explore the theme through its book club, which runs monthly through April. Participants will use Baker’s chosen titles to discuss topics ranging from economic hardship to the use of cultural symbols as mascots. Later in the year, the museum will continue its popular six-week children’s programming, offered during summer break. “We have children of all ages attend with their families, so we try to have something for everyone,” Baker says of the developing lesson plans. “Each session centers around a creative activity and a physical activity so kids can enjoy being outside.”   

And of course, the museum will continue its beloved annual community events, Strawberry Thanksgiving in June, Cranberry Thanksgiving in early October, and Nikommo, an annual end-of-the-year sharing event that ensures no community member goes through the winter without access to necessities, typically held in early December.

“We approach both the Strawberry Thanksgiving and Cranberry Thanksgiving, which are traditional events, in contemporary ways,” explains Baker. “Strawberry Thanksgiving will have traditional dancing along with food and art vendors, children’s activities, and information booths. Cranberry Thanksgiving is more of an educational event.” Nikommo is an annual holiday art market. “The artists attend for free,” Baker says. “It’s an opportunity for networking that empowers them in their business.”

For Baker, asserting sovereignty isn’t just about teaching people about the past. It’s about shedding light on the modern Indigenous culture. “We’re still here,” she says. “Through our stories, our writing, and our presence, we’re making ourselves visible and shaping our future.” Learn more at TomaquagMuseum.org.