Master mishoon maker Jonathan James-Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) joined the Little Compton Historical Society for an artist’s residency in September, 2024. While there, he led a team of Wampanoag artisans and paddlers in the making of a mishoon (dugout canoe) on the traditional homelands of the Sakonnet people. Click here for a video of a 4-minute interview with Jonathan (suggest clicking on closed captions because of the wind noise). Click here for a number of other videos of the event provided by the Historical Society. Click here for a video of the completed mishoon in the water.

(Above) The large pine log arrives from Gurney’s Saw Mill in East Freetown at the Historical Society where the process begins with burning logs placed on top.

(Above) Andrew Devido and Jonathan Perry work on burning the mashoon at the Historical Society. The mishoon and the ceremonies surrounding it are important parts of two Historical Society projects: this year’s transportation exhibit, Little Compton Connected, and next year’s Sakonnet History Project. [Photos above and below courtesy of the LC Historical Society]

After a night burn, Jonathan and his team plan to conduct a Reconnecting Ceremony and launch the mishoon near Squant Rock, a sacred Wampanoag site, at Sakonnet Point, and paddle the mishoon on the Sakonnet River.