Indigenous Peoples Day — October 10, 2026 — Free, Family Friendly, Outdoor Cultural Arts Celebration

Toodie Coombs (Mashpee Wampanoag) Corn Husk Doll Making Workshop; Elizabeth Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag) plant weaving demonstrations; Sarah Small Turtle (Mi’kmaq Lennox Island PEI) art activities; Daniela Currie-Gutierre (Mexica) The Center art activities.

Hawk Henries (Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuc Band) plays Eastern Woodlands Flute Music. He will also offer a flute making demonstration at 1:00 pm. Hawk is an artist, composer, and flute musician. His transformative performances create contemplative spaces for unity and meaningful reflection on how we each have the capacity to make change in the world.

Featuring Darius Coombs (Mashpee Wampanoag), Jonathan Perry (Aquinnah Wampanoag), Phillip Wynne (Mashpee Wampanoag), Jaredd James (Aquinnah Wampanoag) and birchbark canoe maker Ryan Ranco Kelley (Penobscot). See full description of 2026 Indigenous Canoe Makers here.

Representing tribal communities of Mashpee on Cape Cod, Aquinnah on Martha’s Vineyard, and Herring Pond in Bourne, their performance of eastern social songs and dances both educate and entertain. They dress in their traditional clothing and their songs are accompanied by a water drum and handcrafted rattles. They encourage audience participation and prefer to dance with the people instead of for the people.

Launch at the Merrimack River Waterfront. See map and interactive link below for information on canoe river route and viewing locations along the boardwalk, Custom House Maritime Museum and Joppa Flats Sea Wall.

Nicholas Paul (Passamaquoddy and Maliseet), Pauochau Nohkunnawai Waupi (Narrangansett and Peqout) and family share songs and teach participatory social dances. As a family they follow traditions and teachings that have been passed down to us from their elders and the ones who have gone before them. They pass these same teachings to younger generations.

Hawk Henries will demonstrate his craft at his booth. He has flutes all over the world and in several museums. As a flute maker, Hawk’s focus is to remain historically consistent, in terms of relationship to, and the process of, building a flute. His attention to detail, both in tuning and aesthetics is evident. Working with hand tools allows him to intentionally accentuate the natural beauty of the wood grain, with each part of the flute being beautifully hand carved and meticulously sanded.

Albert “Oro” Ayala and Nicole Caban are Indigenous Caribbean Cultural Keepers and multidisciplinary artists who share their heritage through storytelling, singing, music, food, and traditional arts.

Lonecry Singers are based out of Charlottetown and Scotchfort, Prince Edward Island, Canada. They share and produce traditional music. Tim Sock, founder of Lonecry, is a knowledge keeper in his community of Abegweit First Nation, PEI, Canada, as well a pipe carrier, drum keeper and drum maker. Lonecry has performed all over the East Coast from Atlantic Canada to Quebec and Ontario as well as New England.

Larry Spotted Crow Mann and Jasmine Rochelle Goodspeed of the Ohketeua Cultural Center tell stories and share family activities. Larry (Hassanamisco Nipmuc) is an award-winning writer, poet, cultural educator, traditional storyteller, tribal drummer, dancer and motivational speaker. Jasmine (Hassanamisco Nipmuc) is an actor, singer, director, and playwright.

Seth Willey (Cherokee ) will also tell stories and drum. Seth facilitates drum circles bringing mother earth’s heartbeat to the community. He shares stories and songs for all ages.

Speakers, Drumming, Dancing, etc.