This summary encapsulates an article from Metro West Daily News, highlighting the recent celebration and launch of a traditional mishoon canoe by the Nipmuc community, supported by the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, as a means of preserving and passing down cultural traditions.

The Nipmuc community, with assistance from the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, recently celebrated the completion and launch of a mishoon, a traditional canoe made by burning and carving out the inside of a large tree. The event, held near Longfellow's Wayside Inn, brought together elders and tribal youth to test the canoe. Andre Strongbearheart Gaines Jr. expressed gratitude for the acknowledgment of their cultural heritage and highlighted the significance of cultural communities coming together. The mishoon creation symbolizes a connection to ancestral traditions and serves as a reminder of Native American history, with the event reflecting on the importance of preserving and passing down cultural practices. The article also mentions the historical context, noting that it was only in 1978 that Congress granted basic rights to Native Americans, such as the right to speak their own language and hold ceremonies.

Andre Strongbearheart expressed gratitude for the elders and ancestors who preserved cultural traditions even during times when such practices were illegal. He emphasized the significance of openly engaging in these activities today. Strongbearheart discussed the shift from a matriarchal society in New England, predating colonization, to the present hierarchical system. After sharing traditions and performing a Calumet dance, he, his nephew, and a member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation paddled a newly crafted canoe. Nipmuc elder Millie McCowan praised their first voyage, noting the spiritual connection observed, including a hawk circling overhead as an auspicious sign during Strongbearheart's speech to the gathered crowd.

Younger members, like Chenae Bullock, acknowledge the elders' role in preserving traditions despite their illegality, viewing it as an act "sovereign in the law of the divine." Burning braided sweetgrass, Bullock emphasizes the need to invite and promote goodness for healing. The mishoon, crafted from a tree near Longfellow's Wayside Inn, unexpectedly burned faster due to the ongoing drought. Gary Christelis of The Wayside Inn Foundation mentions plans to host historical events, with the mishoon representing one chapter. Once completed, the mishoon will be stored in a pond, submerged with rocks to prevent drying and aging over winter. Bullock prepares food in an outdoor kitchen, including a striped bass smoked over an open fire. Andre Strongbearheart plans to make another mishoon at a significant, undisclosed location, aiming to highlight the history of colonized spaces. Nipmuc elder Millie McCowan emphasizes the land's ownership by Mother Nature and urges respect for its gifts.