On March 24, Hawk Henries came to share his handmade flutes and play his songs with the students of Juniper Hill School in Alna. He engaged the children with his music, stories and humor, captivating them and inspiring them to create their own flutes.

Henries is a member of a northeastern Algonquin tribe called Nipmuc, a People indigenous to southern New England. Hawk has been a flute maker for more than 20 years and enjoys sharing his music, flutes and flute-making skills. His flute-making focus has remained historically consistent, in terms of relationship and process; they are made using hand tools and fire with materials gathered in the forest.

Henries has presented at powwows, indigenous and international art fairs and celebrations, private gatherings, public and private schools, universities and museums all over the country (including Harvard Divinity School).

Henries brought not only his Native American heritage and his expertise in flute making and playing but also a philosophy about the world and connections between us all. This dovetailed beautifully with the place-based education pedagogy of the Juniper Hill School. We look forward to hosting him again.

Juniper Hill School in Alna is a nature-based, place-based, pre- and elementary school, founded by director Anne Stires in 2011. The school is located at 180 Golden Ridge Road in Alna.