People of the First Light is a legacy float from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
History with the Macy's Parade[]
The People of the First Light float made its debut in the 2022 Macy's Parade, honoring and telling the story of resilience, tradition and an enduring vibrant culture. The float—the first permanent Native American float in Parade history—was a collaborative effort with Indigenous Direction and is part of the organization's pact with Macy's to further Indigenize the Parade. The float was designed by Joseph Ammons, with help from Wampanoag artist Julie Marden and input from Wampanoag clan mothers.[1]
The float’s pathways symbolize the colors of the four directions, led by Grandmother Eastern Pine tree, adorned by wampum shells of the water, and surrounded by sweetgrass, sassafras, and wild berry plant relatives. Sitting in a place of honor atop the float were the elders from the Wampanoag tribes of Mashpee and Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
The float was retired following the 2023 Parade.