Dr. David Weed, Coordinator of the Sowams Heritage Area Project, spoke to the Greater Fall River Rotary Club on March 21, 2024 to tell them about current efforts to create a new National Heritage Area within the nine communities that comprise the land once known by the Pokanoket Tribe as Sowams. Click here for a 16-minute video of his talk.

(Above) Dr. Weed begins by telling the audience that National Heritage Areas are living, working landscapes that honor the important role of a region in our country’s development and celebrate its contributions to American history and culture.

Sowams honors the Pokanoket Massasoit Ousamequin who lived in what today is Warren, RI. Within Sowams one can find over fifty locations that reveal the 17th century history of his tribe’s support of the Pilgrims and the eventual outbreak of King Philip’s War in 1675.

A Steering Committee comprised of a coalition of Pokanoket leadership; town planners; representatives of tourism entities, historical societies, and museums; and other volunteers is leading a feasibility study to consider development of an NHA that can instill a sense of pride in the area.