Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness

The Massachusetts Center for Native American Awareness (MCNAA), was founded in 1989 by Burne Stanley-Peters and her late husband John Slow Turtle Peters.  At the time, Slow Turtle was the Executive Director of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs and the two of them decided to create the organization after seeing so many of the needs of Native American communities and families in Massachusetts going unmet. Additionally, they saw there was a lack of knowledge and understanding about Native Americans among the general public that needed to be addressed.

The mission of MCNAA mission is to assist Native American residents with basic needs and educational expenses; to provide opportunities for cultural and spiritual enrichment; and to increase public understanding and awareness about authentic Native American history and culture.