Fish Passage Celebration @ Slater Mill

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Earlier today—May 21, 2023—I attended the Fish Passage Celebration, an intertribal gathering and collaboration with local river advocates. Held at Old Slater Mill in Pawtucket, RI, which is part of Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park (BRVNHP), the event lasted from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and culminated in a short parade through the historic area of Pawtucket. This event is a sequel or follow-up to an event last fall, Be the Voice of Kittacuck, which recognized one of the original names of the Blackstone River.

Much like the last event, I was astounded by the array of organizations represented or acknowledged, including but not limited to:

Holding my fish in front of Slater Mill and Wilkinson Mill; in the foreground is a paper herring colored with green, yellow, and orange stripes. Behind the fish is stone Wilkinson Mill to the left and yellow painted clapboard Slater Mill in the center.

In addition to the parade, the program included an introduction of elders and representatives, speeches, traditional song and dance, the opportunity to color a fish picture, and face painting. The parade route was a 0.7 mile rectangle. Paraders took a right out of the parking lot at Slater Mill and traveled down Roosevelt Avenue before taking the next right onto Exchange Street and crossing the bridge over the Blackstone River. Another right turn took the parade down Broadway and past several churches. The next turn was onto the Main Street bridge over Pawtucket Falls where the Blackstone River becomes the Seekonk River. Finally, paraders returned to Roosevelt Avenue and passed the Blackstone Valley Visitor Center to return to the parking lot.

Round Dance; many people dance in a circle, including a recycling mascot Pawtucket City Hall & Police Station; a tall concrete bulding with a middle tower stretching eight stories high Roosevelt Ave Shamrock; a shamrock painted in the middle of the road
Parading over the Exchange Street bridge; a large group of people walk down the middle of a street. Several 19th century buildings stand in the background. Iglesia La Sal de la Tierra; a light green, yellow, and red church building A church turned into a residential home; purple and white church building.
The Temple of Restoration; a tall stone church with a large clock tower Slater Mill and City Hall from across the Blackstone River; a sign in foreground describes the history of the area Pawtucket Falls under the Main Street bridge

This event promoted the environment and ecological needs of the region while giving insight to a culture greatly contrasting my own, even though we live in the same place. The highly respectful collaboration between Native American elders and their relaxed approach to time while preparing for the correct moment to act was a sharp contrast to my own European American experience of casual interaction and adherence to schedules regardless of how people felt about an issue. These festivals give opportunities to better understand cultural and historical differences between neighbors and give direction for taking care of the land we share.

Location: 67 Roosevelt Ave, Pawtucket, RI 02860, USA