The Chickataubut Memorial is a bold and long-overdue tribute to one of the region’s most important Indigenous leaders: Sachem Chickataubut, the historic leader of the Massachusett people. Commissioned in partnership with the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, the sculpture stands as both public monument and cultural reckoning—a permanent acknowledgment of Indigenous presence, resilience, and sovereignty on the land now known as Quincy, the heart of Chickataubut’s ancestral territory.

At its core, the project is a powerful act of collaboration. Ryan Ackerman led the granite design and sculptural integration, working closely with bronze artist Wesley Wofford, the foundry team at Laran Bronze, and Coldspring, who sourced the stone and executed its form using robotic sculpting. Tribal leaders, civic institutions, and cultural historians also contributed deeply to the creative process.

The memorial was shaped by extensive oral histories, archival research, and interviews led by Ackerman in collaboration with members of the Massachusett Tribe, the Quincy Historical Society, and the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs. For the Tribe, the piece is a vital public declaration: “We are still here.”

Towering atop the granite base, Wofford’s bronze sculpture features a 12-foot-tall Chickataubut holding his young son, Wampatuck, who would later become Sachem of the Massachusett. In his raised hand, Chickataubut presents a wampum belt—a sacred symbol of diplomacy, sovereignty, heritage, and unbroken lineage serving as a powerful visual anchor. The figures rise from a massive Mountain Green granite wave sculpted by Ackerman, whose kinetic form evokes the Atlantic coastline, ancestral memory, and the motion of unfolding generational knowledge.

Behind the artistry lies an extraordinary feat of engineering blending cutting-edge technology with old-world craftsmanship. The bronze was designed to emerge fluidly from the granite without any visible seam or mechanical interruption. To achieve this, the team used advanced 3D modeling working in tandem with Coldspring’s 5-axis robotic carving systems to create a seamless transition tucked beneath the crest of the wave. The result is a fluid shift from stone to metal—a sculpture that reads as one singular, continuous, living form.

The full memorial weighs approximately 23,000 lbs and shipped fully assembled. Ackerman completed the final surfacing by hand on site, ensuring the wave’s texture and presence remain harmoniously human, tactile, and intentional.

This project marks a first for Quincy—and for the broader New England region. It brings together Indigenous storytelling, sculptural innovation, and masterful collaboration, merging centuries of history with modern, state-of-the-art fabrication to create a monument of lasting power.

A permanent reminder of the Massachusett people’s enduring legacy and living presence.