Join us for Newburyport’s 6th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Observance to celebrate traditional and contemporary Indigenous cultural arts, knowledge and diversity, honoring our region’s Indigenous communities and all Native Peoples, and supports recognition of Indigenous Peoples Day at the city, state and national level. We welcome community participation to support this event, including Indigenous and allied partners, sponsors, volunteers, educators, students, and others to join us!
Saturday, October 10, 2026
Newburyport, Massachusetts
Waterfront Park, 10 AM – 5 PM
Indigenous Presenters, Musicans and Artisans
This year’s Indigenous cultural presenters, musicians and artisans include: Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers; Lonecry Singers; Nicholas Paul, Pauochau Nohkunnawai Waupi, and family drum/dance/song; Hawk Henries; Larry Spotted Crow Mann; Jonathan Perry; Darius and Toodie Coombs; Phillip Wynne; Jarrad James; Jason Pardilla; Ryan Kelley; Albert “Oro” Ayala Nicole Luz-Caban; Claudia Fox Tree;Elizabeth Perry; Chickie Red Dawn; Sarah Small Turtle; Daniela Currie-Gutierrez; and others.
Canoe Makers
This year’s event again highlights Indigenous maritime cultural arts traditions in the Dawnland, including the ceremonial launch and paddle on the Merrimack River of a traditional hand crafted muhsh8n (mishoon dugout canoe) made by Darius Coombs, Jonathan James Perry, Jarrad James and Phillip Wynne, as well as Jason Pardilla’s Aputamkon (birch bark canoe).
Imagine Studios is honored to have been a 2025 grant recipient of the New England Foundation for the Arts “Public Art for Spatial Justice” initiative for “The Merrimack Mishoon Project!”
Seeking Volunteers
As a community-supported, volunteer-run grassroots coalition, we welcome and rely on community participation to bring this meaningful event to life. 
We invite Indigenous and allied partners, sponsors, volunteers, educators, students, and community members to get involved! 
Learn more & sign up here!
Seeking Sponsors
As a nonprofit, volunteer organized event, we rely on the generosity of partner organizations, business sponsors and donors to help us celebrate Indigenous cultures, amplify Indigenous voices, and create a richer understanding of our shared history and community.
A sponsorship form outlining benefits and recognition opportunities can be found at this link.
Raffle and Silent Auction
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Please Donate
Seeking Donations
We are seeking goods and services for our fundraising raffle & silent auction. Please consider contributing here today and thanks!
Financial Donations Gratefully Accepted
2026 Indigenous Partners
2026 Sustainers
2026 Community Partners
2026 Business Sponsors
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Looking Back:
Indigenous Peoples Day 2025
Sponsored By Newburyport, Amesbury, Newbury, West Newbury, Merrimac, Salisbury, Rowley Cultural Councils
2025 Scheduled Presentations–
10:00 am Opening circle and acknowledgements with intertribal Indigenous representatives, city and state officials, with drumming by The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers, Nicholas Paul and Family and Lonecry Singers.
10:45 am Roger Paul
11 am-2 pm Corn Husk Doll and Wampum Making Workshops with Toodie and Darius Coombs
11 am-2 pm Finger Weaving Demonstrations by Elizabeth James-Perry
11 am-2 pm Family Art Making Workshops with Sarah Small Turtle Levenson and Daniela Currie-Gutierrez
11:15 am Hawk Henries
12:00 noon Claudia Fox Tree
12:15 pm Thea Hopkins
1:00 pm Mihku Paul
1:30 pm Jennifer Kreisberg
2:15 pm Family program Larry Spotted Crow Mann
2:45 pm Student Poets and readings
3:00 pm Merrimack Muhsh8n and Aputamkon Birch Bark Canoe launch at the Waterfront Park terminating at The Public (Sea Wall) Boat Launch. Canoe paddle viewing areas include public access along boardwalks and trails at Waterfront park, The Custom House Maritime Museum and Sea Wall, 207-211 Water St.
3:00 pm Drum and dance demonstrations and community participation Waterfront Park and boardwalk trail.
4:00 pm Welcome back community celebration and closing ceremonies with Merrimack Muhsh8n and Aputamkon makers, Darius Coombs, Jonathan Perry, Phillip Wynne, Jared James, and Jason Pardilla.
Nicholas Paul, Pauochau Nohkunnawai Waupi, and Family –READ MORE
Nicholas Paul (Passamaquoddy from Motahmikuk, Indian Township, Maine and Wolastoqiyik, Maliseet, From Tobique First Nations in New Brunswick Canada), and Pauochau Nohkunnawai Waupi, “She who dances on night winds,” Narrangansett From Rhode Island and Peqout from Connecticut- joined by their children, Sipsis (lil bird) 19, Hiawatha (Keeper of the forest) 18, and Tihtiyas (Blue Jay) 8, and granddaughter Mauseck Wequai (Great Light) 1.
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Donations Gratefully Accepted
Contact Imagine Studios for More Information
(978) 834-0367 / kristine@imaginestudios.org
