Burning of the Mishoon
December 12, 2023
The Westport, MA Mishoon Burn
In late May of 2023, a collaborative effort between the Westport River Watershed Alliance, the Westport Land Conservation Trust, and Wampanoag Experience took place.
This collaboration resulted in a mishoon, or traditional Native American canoe, burn, which lasted 24 hours a day for an entire week between May 13th and June 24th. Annawon Weeden, a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, and Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., from the Nipmuc Nation, along with several other tribal and non-tribal supporters skillfully oversaw the mishoon's burning.
The general public was encouraged to attend, with the hopes it would provide an opportunity to gain insight into Native American traditions.
Once the mishoon was completed, it became the focal point of the June 24th River Day festival, held at the head of the Westport River.
Celebrating Native American Culture and Voices in Marlborough
The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe embarked on a significant cultural endeavor by crafting a canoe from a white pine trunk in a traditional mishoon burn.
Andre Strongbearheart talks about the work of preserving Nipmuc traditions, decolonization, and passing these practices to the next generation with LTC Production Volunteer Carolyn.
Town officials in Natick met with members of the Nipmuc Nation to address an incident where Nipmuc individuals harvesting trees were confronted by the police due to a lack of awareness about their agreement with the Conservation Commission.
Annawon Weeden and Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines recently led a traditional Wampanoag mishoon (canoe) construction as artists-in-residence at the Westport Town Farm
Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., and his nephews, Daishuan Reddeer Garate and Miguel Wandering Turtle Garate, present an original spoken word program offering a Nipmuc Tribal perspective on place. This program will explore the common themes that connect ten-thousand-year-old traditional Indigenous social songs with modern day spoken word poetry. hey will share stories about their ongoing relationships to the land, the persistence and resilience of the Northeastern tribes, differing world views, and ways they are able to maintain balance at the intersection between the traditional lifestyle and values they inherited through their ancestors and functioning respectfully in today’s complicated world.
This workshop is intended to educate non-Indigenous people on the importance of supporting and centering Indigenous sovereignty, promote Indigenous cultural reclamation and preservation, and offer a comprehensive introduction to the relationship between food, animals, and garments.
A rare opportunity to learn and participate in traditional Eastern Woodlands Native social dances, led by Nipmuc tribal members Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr., and his nephews Daishuan Reddeer Garate and Miguel Wandering Turtle Garate.
A drum making workshop led by Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines, Jr. and hosted by Ohketeau Cultural Center.
For more information and to RSVP email info@ohketeau.org. Space is limited
Spoken word poetry by Andre Strongbearheart Gaines, Jr.