Historic Canoe 'Burning' Underway Near Boston Harbor

CHARLESTOWN, MA — For the first time in the 300 years since colonial settlers arrived in what is now the Boston area, two local indigenous tribes have joined forces to craft a canoe — called a "mishoon" — using traditional methods.

The process of "burning" the mishoon kicked off Monday with led by Nipmuc tribe cultural steward Andre Strongbearheart Gaines and Massachusett tribe educator Thomas Green. Through Nov. 13, Green, Gaines and several apprentices will be burning 24/7 to create the canoe.

“We want the public to be informed, we want them to understand what we’re doing, why we’re there doing it, and for them to embrace that, to embrace us being in our traditional space, doing what we need to be doing," Gaines and Green said in a news release.

During the burn, the craftsmen use fire to hollow out a fresh log. The fire helps cauterize fresh sap in the tree — a natural way of waterproofing. Along with shaping the dugout canoe, the fire will be used to cook food and preserve animal hides.

Gaines has been leading a return of canoe burnings recently. With assistance from the Shinnecock Indian Nation and Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, Gaines recently led a mishoon burn in Sudbury at the Wayside Inn.

The burn at the Little Mystic Boat Slip is being made possible by a $20,000 Olmsted Now Parks Equity and Spatial Justice Grant.

The canoe burning is available for anyone to see. Head to the Charlestown Little Mystic Boat Slip along Terminal Street to watch the traditional burn in action.