Lessons from the Mishoon
Lessons from the Mishoon
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Lessons
Lessons
Mishoon-making is a community effort. One person could make a small canoe using the techniques demonstrated in this project, but the role of community is such a rich part of the process, it seems unlikely that one would voluntarily want to go it alone. Many hands make less work, and everyone involved learns from the experiences of others. Additionally, the process provides an opportunity for those within the Indigenous community to gather, eat, and share stories, thus ensuring the passing along of traditions to future generations. It is also a time for making new friends and discussing future collaborations.
Mishoon-making is both predictable and unpredictable. While one can estimate the time needed for the overall process, it is hard to predict how long it will actually take in the end. The process is finished when the tree becomes a canoe and this cannot always be scheduled or planned in advance.
Rain doesn't easily put out a fire. Fires like the one burning in the mishoon are so hot that the water often evaporates before reaching the fire. This is food for thought when we hear reports of wildfires across the country.
Mishoonash fires have many uses. In addition to shaping a canoe, the fires provide heat on cold nights, fuel for cooking meals, a tool for making bowls and other items, and a place to swap stories and ideas. Downtime also provides opportunities for making or completing projects like carving clubs or paddles and sewing moccasins.
The woods surrounding the mishoon fire are a source of healing and well-being. In addition to the benefits one gets from spending time outdoors, the local woods provide an abundance of edible items to forage for food (mushrooms, greens, berries) and medicinal teas (sassafras, pine).
Trees can communicate a lot to us about the impact of climate change. It isn't easy to describe how truly unusual it is for an 18' mishoon to finish burning after six days. To the naked eye, the pine tree used for the canoe looked the same this year as it might have in years past, but it was impacted within its bark by an entire summer with less water. Throughout the project, many of us reflected on the recent drought and nearby wildfire and how this project brought the issue of climate change front and center.
Modern tools may not be traditional, but traditions evolve to take advantage of new technology. The use of metal tools, tractors, and machinery may not be "authentic" to the original methods used thousands of years ago, but it is smart. This project required the labor of more than a dozen people, even with modern tools.
The power of place is real. Andre often commented on the location of the mishoon site as feeling "at home." The location was selected more because of fire safety protocols than anything else, and yet because of how it was nestled in the woods, near Carding Mill Pond, on Nipmuc territory, it was the perfect spot for a project that was about cultural preservation at its core. The power of the site could be felt by many, but most especially by those who are Indigenous.
The public wants to learn more about Indigenous history and traditions. Many visitors remarked how much they enjoyed seeing the mishoon and watching the progress. Some came daily to see the progress and take it all in. Little has been written about mishoon, and books do not do justice in explaining the value of such traditions. This project immersed visitors in the mishoon tradition in a manner that words, photos, and videos cannot capture.
Testimonials
Testimonials
"I loved talking with the team and hearing how they weave indigenous traditions into their daily life. It's important for us to remember that this isn't just the history of the land that we live on, but important traditions that need to continue - and I'm thrilled to see the Wayside Inn supporting efforts. I was also inspired by the idea that the mishoon could be lent out to other events (we were talking about the work that the group does with Charles River Watershed) and it made me realize what a resource Wayside Inn can be for bigger projects."
-Kim Prendergast, Volunteer
"The Mishoon project offered a rare and valuable opportunity to learn about the traditional and extraordinary construction methods of the Indigenous people in crafting their canoes from a single tree-trunk, and a strengthened appreciation for their precious relationship with the land on which they live. More than just a technical process of burning out the log, the time-honored technique was imbued with spirituality and an intense connection with and appreciation for nature. It was an extraordinary learning opportunity, and I thank you and all involved for making it happen."
-Gary Christelis, President, Wayside Inn Board of Trustees
"When the project began, I thought it was going to be a terrific, hands-on opportunity to both learn and teach how to make a dugout canoe using traditional Indigenous methods. I was looking forward to welcoming our project partners to The Wayside Inn and to drawing a large crowd over the course of two weeks to teach some history to as many people as possible. Little did we know though just how impactful the two weeks would be for all involved. The making of the mishoon was multi-layered, at times enlightening, yet also emotional as conversations evolved and different people came to lend a hand and their perspectives. There were fathers and sons and uncles and nephews, women tending the fire and bringing food, and people from at least 5 of the northeastern states working on the mishoon. The young people were outstanding. They got right to work and were attentive and respectful of the older leaders, and they answered questions from the public frankly, yet always with graciousness. They were knowledgeable about their culture and impressive. Hundreds of visitors came to The Wayside Inn. Conversations included discussions about science, technology, healthcare, the environment, and the arts. It was a privilege and pleasure to observe, to carry firewood, run for supplies, to document each step with photographs - to help with the day-to-day and have the chance to see the whole process unfold. At the project’s conclusion a magnificent mishoon remains."
-Sally Purrington Hild, Director of Community Engagement, The Wayside Inn Foundation
"This project was truly a labor of love on so many levels. At an academic level, it provided an opportunity to put theory into practice, especially around ideas of experiential learning, and the manner by which traditions are passed along generation-to-generation. At a personal level, the project provided friendship and collaboration, and much-needed time outdoors. And at a community level, the project taught me to appreciate the different aspects of the importance of community."
-Katina Fontes, Education Coordinator, The Wayside Inn Foundation
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