On a recent sunny afternoon, I made my way from Oak Bluffs to Aquinnah, traveling blissfully with little traffic in the quiet early season past greening fields, scattered boulders and glimpses of the distant coastline. I was on my way to meet Jannette Vanderhoop at her airy, slope-roofed home in tribal housing. Inside, one of her long, furry felines stretched out beside her. It felt like the perfect setting to talk about place, purpose and what it means to grow within — and give back to — a close-knit community.

Many Islanders know Jannette for her distinctive Island Naturals jewelry, which she sold for 17 years at the Vineyard Artisan Festivals at the Grange Hall. But in recent years, she’s been in what she calls a “growth spurt,” stepping into deeper roles within the Wampanoag Tribe [of Gay Head, Aquinnah] and the Island at large. From directing the Tribe’s summer Turtle Program during her college years to serving on the board of the Aquinnah Cultural Center, from teaching yoga to starting a gardening business, and now holding seats on both the Tribal Council and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Jannette brings an energy, a strong sense of purpose and a passion for being part of something bigger.

Q. Your last name, Vanderhoop, is deeply associated with the Wampanoag community and some of the earliest families in Aquinnah. Can you share the history or provenance of this beautiful name and what it means to you personally?

A. I am proud of the name. The first was Adrian Vanderhoop, a Dutch Suriname sailor [who arrived on the Vineayrd] in the 1700s. So probably not a white man. He married Justina Jeffers [a Wampanoag] here. On the Vineyard everyone says, oh, you’re tribal, but everywhere else they say, oh, you’re Dutch! I was born and raised on the Island. A lot of people don’t understand that not all of our members live on the Vineyard. We’re all over the country – all over the world.

Q. You live in tribal housing now. Can you tell me about the early days of this community?

A. Tribal housing opened in 1995 and I was a teenager when we moved up here, having done the Vineyard shuffle between different rental properties. I had never taken a bus! There were lots of kids running around the neighborhood and climbing up the big dirt hill, I remember, when they were building the community center. I don’t think kids do that anymore – slogging around mud puddles.

Q. You were born before the Tribe received federal recognition in 1987. How did that timing shape your experience growing up in the Wampanoag community, and what differences have you seen in the sense of identity and connection among kids who came up after you?

A. The kids who came up after me and lived from the beginning in tribal housing have a real sense of community. Before recognition, everything was a little ad hoc. My mom would drop me at the town hall for beading and dance classes. It wasn’t as organized before the community center [was built]. And then I wound up directing the summer Turtle Program [a camp for tribal youth] there during my college years.

Q. What did that experience mean to you?

A. I had these kids from when they were five to like 12 years old. I think of them as my kids even though I’m not that much older than them. I remember one of the now grown-up kids asked me once what it means to me to be tribal. I think it’s a sense of social responsibility and an obligation to give back or even to just be present or participate. A lot of people are longing for it and missing being a part of things. People want ceremony. They want fun, to create or to be educated in something that is cultural in nature, spiritual and social.

Q. Did that sense of responsibility and the desire to give back motivate you to run for Tribal Council? How have your first months been?

A. My role there is not just, like, political. I want our people to feel like they’re invested in the Tribe because they enjoy it, that it’s not just a chore — it’s a part of who you are. I think people crave that on the Vineyard specifically; it’s not just a tribal thing. Here we know each other; we feel obligated to each other. Well, the first meeting was six hours and I swear, this one white hair popped out during my very first Tribal Council meeting — it’s my Tribal Council white hair! It really did, I’m not kidding. Actually, it’s been really great. I am learning a lot and I’m glad to be a part of the team.

Q. And as if the Tribal Council responsibility is not enough, you were a write-in candidate from Aquinnah for the Martha’s Vineyard Commission this past fall.

A. There was nobody running for the open Aquinnah spot, so it wasn’t as competitive as the other towns, and it was an opportunity. It’s been really interesting. I’m learning about construction and zoning bylaws. I’m starting to speak up. I am interested in creating housing, seeing more cultural tourism. I like fixing old things and seeing old, dilapidated buildings repurposed.

Q. You’ve got all of these community responsibilities in addition to your thriving NV Gardens business.

A. Yes, an N and a V. It can often be mistaken for MV. My partner and I thought it was so clever. She is Nina Violet and I am “Netty” Vanderhoop. She left and now I’m the one N.V.

Q. Do you have a gardening philosophy or a special approach or style?

A. First of all, I see a lot of landscapers who are frantic and stressed out. I’m really good at time management. I keep an obsessive schedule, and I don’t want to take on more than I can do, so most of my clients are up here. It’s all organic, fine gardening.

Q. Where are you selling your Island Naturals jewelry now?

A. I did the Vineyard Artisans Festival at the Grange Hall for like 17 years, but it was beginning to feel like a factory – just pumping out things. What I really like to do is make my signature, one-of-a-kind necklaces in bone, wood, shell, stone leather and feathers. I use beach wampum, but I don’t cut and shape the shells. I just drill the shell so it’s much more organic and chunky. I sell at Bowen’s Arrow at the Cliffs and at Rinpo on Main street in Vineyard Haven.

Q. You’re certainly in crunch time now, so what is the moment you are looking forward to this summer?

A. Last year I had some really awesome beach days with my girlfriends. I’ll go fishing and go to trivia nights. I also look forward to iced coffee season. When the big work is done, we just drive around with iced coffee and water, weeding, spraying and deadheading. I also hope to continue the walking tour I piloted last summer at the Aquinnah Cultural Center. People can just show up. I think I’ll be doing it on Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. I share four stories including those of Moshup, Epenow, and the wreck of the City of Columbus . It’s easy and fun and I hope that somebody will take it and do it!

Q. I know many of us who live down-Island wish we could get up here to enjoy the beauty of Aquinnah more often. What’s your favorite time of year?

A. It’s a specific moment in the fall after a workday when the sun goes down early. We’re done at three and it’s very peaceful, and there’s this feeling of contentment. In the fall, it doesn’t matter what you got done because it will be there tomorrow. It’s my favorite time of year.

Sissy Biggers is the Q&A columnist for The Vine and a contributor to Martha’s Vineyard Magazine.