Sunday, October 12, 2025
Merrimack Mishoon Celebration & Fundraising Feast 2025
Last weekend, I was pleased to share remarks during the
Merrimack Mishoon Celebration & Fundraising Feast at the Custom House
Museum in Newburyport, supporting the Merrimack Mishoon Project.
The evening highlighted the incredible work of Wampanoag
chefs and craftspeople preserving traditional maritime skills, including the
construction of a Mishoon—a traditional Native American watercraft. The feast,
prepared by James Beard Award-winning Chef Sherry Pocknett, showcased
indigenous foods of the Northeast.
It was inspiring to meet mishoon makers Darius Coombs and
Jonathan Perry and learn more about their efforts to preserve this vital part
of our region’s cultural heritage.
Events like this not only celebrate our shared history and
traditions, but also raise critical support for cultural preservation and
education. Thank you to everyone who organized, sponsored, and attended this
meaningful celebration of culture, community, and the Merrimack River!
