Community & Impact
Tribal Express: Carrying the Spirit of the Tribe
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The Unkechaug Nation Culture Class carries the spirit of the season forward — bringing culture, community, and unity from Main Street to NYC.
“If you hear the bell, it means you believe.”
That was the message shared with the kids as they stepped onto the float — a moment inspired by The Polar Express, but rooted in something deeper.
The Tribal Express — Christmas 2025
In Christmas 2025, Native Land Cares brought The Tribal Express – Engine 1659 to the holiday parade season, beginning with the Mastic/Shirley Christmas Parade and continuing into the Center Moriches Holiday Parade of Lights.
The theme for the first parade was “My Favorite Christmas Movie,” and the choice was clear—The Polar Express.
But rather than simply following the theme, it became something more.
The Tribal Express wasn’t just a float.
It became a way to carry the culture forward—through the kids, through the community, and through the moment itself.
The Meaning Behind the Tribal Express
The name was intentional.
“Tribal” represents the Nation—the people, the unity, and the connection that brings everyone together.
“Express” represents movement—moving forward, growing, and showing up—but also expression.
It is a way to express identity, culture, and pride in a space where it can be seen.
And at the center of it all: Engine 1659.
That number represents the foundation—a connection to the history of the Unkechaug Nation, and a reminder that everything moving forward is powered by where we come from.
Where It Started
This didn’t begin with a float.
In 2022, Native Land participated in the Mastic/Shirley Christmas Parade for the first time alongside the Poospatuck Culture Class.
That year, we walked.
Native Land Cares provided the shirts, the banner, and refreshments, and the community showed up in a real way — families, kids, and supporters all coming together.
It was simple.
But it meant something.
The Unkechaug Nation had not participated in the Mastic/Shirley parade in over 40 years —
until Native Land brought it back in 2022.
From Walking to the Tribal Express
From that first year, things grew.
What started as a walk became something bigger.
By the following year, the first float was introduced.
By 2025, that evolution became The Tribal Express—a fully realized concept that brought together the theme, the culture, and the community into one unified experience.
What started locally soon expanded beyond hometown streets.
In October 2024, Native Land Cares and the Unkechaug Nation Culture Class proudly participated in the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Parade in New York City.
Together, they represented their Nation with:
Custom-designed apparel
Cultural pride
Community unity
From local streets to one of the world’s biggest cities, the message remained clear:
We are still here.
The Poospatuck Culture Class
At the center of this movement is the Poospatuck Culture Class—a community-led cultural program dedicated to teaching and preserving Native traditions for future generations.
Through:
Dance
Regalia
Choreography
Public participation
The Culture Class empowers youth to step confidently into their heritage.
Their role in the Tribal Express was not simply participation.
It was the purpose.
A Moment That Meant Something
Before the float rolled out, each child received a bell.
And they were told:
The bell is special — it can only be heard by those who truly believe.
In that moment, it wasn’t about a movie.
It was about:
belief
identity
connection
and community
Continuing the Movement
The Tribal Express continued on to the Center Moriches Holiday Parade of Lights, carrying the same energy, the same message, and the same purpose.
Each parade, each appearance, each moment — it builds.
Looking Forward
What started in 2022 continues to grow.
More presence.
More support.
More culture being carried forward.
And most importantly — more of the next generation stepping into it.
