Details
Join the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center for a special Community Day presented in partnership with the Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter, NSDAR.
The program will begin with Nibi Waabamag Ziigwang ("Seeing the Water in a Sacred Way"), a traditional water cleansing ceremony led by Reta Underwood, an elder and teacher in the Midewiwin tradition and a medicine woman of the Grand Medicine Society. Through prayer, song, and a brief teaching, participants will be invited to reflect on the sacredness of water, its role as a source of life and our shared responsibility to care for it. During the water blessing, Underwood will share a short teaching on sacred water and a Water Song that she carries. Once the water is blessed, it will be shared with participants.
Overlooking the Ohio River, the ceremony invites all to experience water not simply as something to use, but as sacred and life-giving, sustaining our bodies, our food, our communities and the earth.
Following the ceremony, guests will hear a presentation exploring the history, traditions, and cultural significance of Indigenous foodways by Chef Joe Rocchi. From ancestral growing practices to the preservation of traditional knowledge, this conversation will examine how Indigenous communities have sustained deep relationships with the land and continue to reclaim and protect their food systems today. Chef Rocchi will repeat the presentation in the afternoon for guests who join later in the day.
Speaker Bios
Reta Underwood
Reta Underwood is an elder and teacher in the Midewiwin tradition and a medicine woman of the Grand Medicine Society.
Chef Joe Rocchi
Chef Joe Rocchi is an enrolled member of the Pamunkey Tribe of Virginia and Culinary Education Director at Franklin Towne Charter High School in Philadelphia. He holds a bachelor of science degree in culinary arts and has more than two decades of culinary industry experience. His work centers on Indigenous food sovereignty, traditional foods, nutrition, agriculture and the dietary effects of colonization. He serves on the executive board of the Native American Food Sovereignty Association and chairs its committee developing Indigenous culinary and health programming.
Chef Joe has worked with Native organizations on traditional seeds, youth education, agriculture, community nutrition and food programs, and has presented at universities and institutions across the country.
About Daughters of the American Revolution
Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism.
DAR members volunteer millions of service hours annually in their local communities, including supporting active duty military personnel and assisting veteran patients, awarding thousands of dollars on scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and supporting schools for underserved children with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.
As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts nearly 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background who can prove lineal descent from a Patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership.
Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter, NSDAR
The Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter, NSDAR was chartered on November 5, 2024, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter is one of six DAR chapters in the Greater Cincinnati Area with two more close by in Northern Kentucky.
The Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution proudly honors the brave contributions of three distinguished male Patriots of African Heritage. Their service before, during and after the American Revolution helped secure the freedom we cherish today. The courage of Crispus Attucks, William (Billy) Lee and Benjamin Banneker and their unwavering dedication to the cause of liberty exemplify the highest ideals of Patriotism. These men, though often overlooked by history, stood shoulder to shoulder with fellow Patriots in the fight for independence. The chapter celebrates their legacy, recognizing their vital role in shaping the nation and inspiring future generations. Let their memory be a beacon of strength and unity as we all continue to strive for equality and justice for all.
- Crispus Attucks, 1723-1770
Attucks, a free man of African and Indigenous heritage, led fellow colonists in Boston to stand against British soldiers. He became “the first to defy, the first to die.” The Boston Massacre sparked the American Revolution and Attucks is known as the “first martyr” of the American Revolution. - William “Billy” Lee, 1750-1810
Lee was the enslaved servant of George Washington before, during and after the American Revolution. He would have accompanied General Washington on every campaign and been part of every skirmish. Mt. Vernon and Valley Forge are two well-known locations that chronicle Mr. Lee’s life with General Washington. Only upon Washington’s death was William emancipated. - Benjamin Banneker, 1731-1806
Banneker was born a free man of African heritage in Baltimore County, MD. He was a naturalist, mathematician, astronomer and almanac author. Banneker is known for his many inventions and achievements: the first wooden clock in the colonies that kept accurate time for decades, his almanac and being part of the survey team that carved out Washington, D.C.
The diverse members of the Attucks-Lee-Banneker Chapter are committed to our DAR purpose of Education, Historic Preservation and Patriotism. For more information on joining our chapter, email attucksleebannekerchapterdar@gmail.com or follow us on Facebook.
Fifth Third Community Days are made possible through the generous support of the Fifth Third Foundation. Museum guests receive free admission and the opportunity to experience special programming activities. Reserve your tickets online or in-person.
