Family History
Tyrese Gould Jacinto "Bright Flower"
Biography
I am a Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal member. I am also the daughter of the late Phyllis "Red Deer" and Chief Mark "Quiet Hawk" Gould. My parents were among a core group that initiated the modern-day structure of our tribe. This background allowed me to be immersed in tribal life as a child. I had the opportunity to learn and understand the value of arts and traditions from an early age. Our tribe, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, is from the lower part of New Jersey, mainly in Salem and Cumberland counties. We have maintained this homeland for over 10,000 years and have been well documented through various accounts and encounters from other nations throughout our migration history.
Little is known about us, the Lenape, and the perils of our existence outside our community. We never spoke about our hurt and pain and how we survived. We have our arts and our oral stories from our elders and passed these forms to our youth, from one generation to the next. For many years we survived as a remote community and remained a hidden people. Our brothers and sisters were torn away from our homeland for hundreds of years. They left the ancestors that were buried upon the shores and us. And they are still a part of our lifeblood and our soil today. We are the keepers of the land, keepers of the seed. As a Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape people, we honor our gift of the land, and our survival is also in our "no face" art.
As written in my published book "The Blossoms of Bright Flower, Anthology", on page 63; “Our community is more than the buildings that surround us. Our community is the heart and soul of the people who occupy it. Every community has the heart and soul of those who stayed and made it a better place. Every place that you go has the heart and soul of those who have realized their dreams to make it that better place. We stayed in our community because we found it desirable and familiar, it is not because of the buildings, it is the vision of those who stayed behind to make it a better place to live; for all of the families that belong to it. The fact remains that we are still here. Many have attempted to annihilate and assimilate our communities, but little is known by others, and we have managed to be as one.
Each community that we represent has multiplied and gained strength through teaching, love, and support, from the elderly to the youth. We are the keepers of the earth as long as the youth continue to carry the seed of their parents and grandparents. As long as we teach our new generations, we will continue. As long as we have children, we will share our stories and knowledge and pass the seed to our future generations. Our culture in our community involves the way in which we as a people remain a people, how we celebrate our life, our language, and our ways of seeing the world. It teaches us discipline and wisdom, community is our religion. In our community, we feel a certain oneness with our people. We learn to appreciate what is around us and to not take it for granted; that one breath that was given to us, that we call life. Without our community our culture, our life would be incomplete. Understanding our community makes us realize that there are many different types of lives. Everyone who appreciates his community is blessed. We understand our traditions and customs and we realize who we are because our community involves the way in which we as a people remain a people, how we celebrate life, our language, and our way of seeing the world. Our culture itself is alive and strong from generation to generation and this we call our community.”
Biography
I am a Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape tribal member. I am also the daughter of the late Phyllis "Red Deer" and Chief Mark "Quiet Hawk" Gould. My parents were among a core group that initiated the modern-day structure of our tribe. This background allowed me to be immersed in tribal life as a child. I had the opportunity to learn and understand the value of arts and traditions from an early age. Our tribe, the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape, is from the lower part of New Jersey, mainly in Salem and Cumberland counties. We have maintained this homeland for over 10,000 years and have been well documented through various accounts and encounters from other nations throughout our migration history.
Little is known about us, the Lenape, and the perils of our existence outside our community. We never spoke about our hurt and pain and how we survived. We have our arts and our oral stories from our elders and passed these forms to our youth, from one generation to the next. For many years we survived as a remote community and remained a hidden people. Our brothers and sisters were torn away from our homeland for hundreds of years. They left the ancestors that were buried upon the shores and us. And they are still a part of our lifeblood and our soil today. We are the keepers of the land, keepers of the seed. As a Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape people, we honor our gift of the land, and our survival is also in our "no face" art.
As written in my published book "The Blossoms of Bright Flower, Anthology", on page 63; “Our community is more than the buildings that surround us. Our community is the heart and soul of the people who occupy it. Every community has the heart and soul of those who stayed and made it a better place. Every place that you go has the heart and soul of those who have realized their dreams to make it that better place. We stayed in our community because we found it desirable and familiar, it is not because of the buildings, it is the vision of those who stayed behind to make it a better place to live; for all of the families that belong to it. The fact remains that we are still here. Many have attempted to annihilate and assimilate our communities, but little is known by others, and we have managed to be as one.
Each community that we represent has multiplied and gained strength through teaching, love, and support, from the elderly to the youth. We are the keepers of the earth as long as the youth continue to carry the seed of their parents and grandparents. As long as we teach our new generations, we will continue. As long as we have children, we will share our stories and knowledge and pass the seed to our future generations. Our culture in our community involves the way in which we as a people remain a people, how we celebrate our life, our language, and our ways of seeing the world. It teaches us discipline and wisdom, community is our religion. In our community, we feel a certain oneness with our people. We learn to appreciate what is around us and to not take it for granted; that one breath that was given to us, that we call life. Without our community our culture, our life would be incomplete. Understanding our community makes us realize that there are many different types of lives. Everyone who appreciates his community is blessed. We understand our traditions and customs and we realize who we are because our community involves the way in which we as a people remain a people, how we celebrate life, our language, and our way of seeing the world. Our culture itself is alive and strong from generation to generation and this we call our community.”
Granddaughter of "Strong Medicine"
Tyrese is the first granddaughter of Strong Medicine and is fortunate to have been taught and guided by ancient wisdom of herbs and everyday life through her. With 5 generations alive, Tyrese is surrounded by family values and traditions of old.
Tyrese is also mentioned in the book by Amy Hill Hearth titled: Strong Medicine Speaks.
Tyrese is also mentioned in the book by Amy Hill Hearth titled: Strong Medicine Speaks.
For an autographed book by as many family still alive!
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From the bestselling author of Having Our Say: The Delany Sisters' First 100 Years comes the inspiring true story of Marion "Strong Medicine" Gould, a Native American matriarch, and the Indian way of life that must never be forgotten.
Amy Hill Hearth's first book, Having Our Say, told the true story of two century-old African-American sisters and went on to become an enduring bestseller and the subject of a three-time Tony Award-nominated play. In "Strong Medicine" Speaks, Hearth turns her talent for storytelling to a Native American matriarch presenting a powerful account of Indian life. Born and raised in a nearly secret part of New Jersey that remains Native ancestral land, Marion "Strong Medicine" Gould is an eighty-five-year-old Elder in her Lenni-Lenape tribe and community. Taking turns with the author as the two women alternate voices throughout this moving book, Strong Medicine tells of her ancestry, tracing it back to the first Native peoples to encounter the Europeans in 1524, through the strife and bloodshed of America's early years, up to the twentieth century and her own lifetime, decades colored by oppression and terror yet still lifted up by the strength of an enduring collective spirit. This genuine and delightful telling gives voice to a powerful female Elder whose dry wit and charming humor will provide wisdom and inspiration to readers from every background. |
Victor M. Jacinto
Biography
Victor M. Jacinto is a Mexican immigrant and US Citizen. He has lived in the United States for over 25 years. Victor's background is vast and exciting! The oldest of 10 children, he was immersed in a rich and rugged frontier life. Victor is a master skillsmans from breaking horses, making bricks, restoring cars, farming to demolition and major construction.
Victor's father was in the Mexican military and played eight musical instruments. He also recorded music as a part of a band in Mexico. Vic's mother is a seamstress and homemaker. She also manages her lemon farm in his hometown of Atotonilco, El Alto, Jasilco.
With Vic's rugged and frontier background, this has afforded him skills of survival that most Americans have not experienced. As a master skillsman, he has a vast array of experience in the construction industry including heavy equipment operations.
Victor has two children and one grandchild and is eager to pass his experience to the new generations.
Biography
Victor M. Jacinto is a Mexican immigrant and US Citizen. He has lived in the United States for over 25 years. Victor's background is vast and exciting! The oldest of 10 children, he was immersed in a rich and rugged frontier life. Victor is a master skillsmans from breaking horses, making bricks, restoring cars, farming to demolition and major construction.
Victor's father was in the Mexican military and played eight musical instruments. He also recorded music as a part of a band in Mexico. Vic's mother is a seamstress and homemaker. She also manages her lemon farm in his hometown of Atotonilco, El Alto, Jasilco.
With Vic's rugged and frontier background, this has afforded him skills of survival that most Americans have not experienced. As a master skillsman, he has a vast array of experience in the construction industry including heavy equipment operations.
Victor has two children and one grandchild and is eager to pass his experience to the new generations.
