Appreciation vs. Appropriation

With Speaker Silvermoon LaRose (Narragansett Niantic)

Assistant Director at the Tomaquag Museum

Zoom—Wednesday, February 26, 2025

What is cultural appropriation? Why is cultural appropriation harmful? How can we show appreciation for other cultures without appropriating them? Join Silvermoon LaRose, Assistant Director at the Tomaquag Museum, for a presentation that delves deeper into the concerns associated with appropriation and how you can avoid appropriative practices.

Silvermoon Mars LaRose is a member of the Narragansett Tribe, devoted to her family, and always striving to be a good Auntie to all within her community. As the Assistant Director of the Tomaquag Museum, she is dedicated to the sharing of cultural education and the preservation of cultural belongings held in trust for future generations. Silvermoon has worked in tribal communities for over 20 years, serving in the areas of health and human services, education, and humanities. In 2022, Silvermoon participated in the Rhode Island Foundation’s inaugural Equity leadership Initiative cohort and now sits on its steering committee. As a public servant, Silvermoon serves on the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, and as the secretary for the Charlestown Conservation Commission. Additionally, she is the vice chair for the Avenue Concept supporting local public art ecosystems. As an artist and educator, she hopes to foster Indigenous empowerment through education, community building, and the sharing of cultural knowledge and traditional arts. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a minor in Justice Law and Society from the University of Rhode Island, and a partially completed Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling from Western Washington University.