Fish Passage Celebration @ Slater Mill | 2024
Last Sunday, March 19, I visited Old Slater Mill from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and joined a host of community groups advocating for the building of a fish passage. This is the third event I have attended to raise awareness around this issue, the first two being the Fish Passage Celebration in May 2023, and Be the Voice of Kittacuck in October 2022. Since the construction of dams in the 18th century to control water power on the Blackstone River and its tributaries, herring and other migratory fish have been unable to properly make their seasonal journeys. This has disrupted the ecosystem and badly affected fishers.
Like last year, an astonishing array of organizations collaborated to put on this event:
- Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
- Blackstone Watershed Collaborative Blackstone River Watershed Council / Friends of the Blackstone
- Save the Bay
- Groundwork Rhode Island
- Mass Audubon
- Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley
- Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
- Department of Conservation & Recreation in Massachusetts (Mass DCR)
- Rhode Island Seafood from the Department of Environmental Management
- Department of Environmental Management in Rhode Island (DEM RI)
- Health Source Rhode Island
- Empowerment Factory
Besides booths, education, entertain, and food were provided by a range of organizations. Rhode Island FC, a professional soccer team headquartered across the street from the national park site, sent their mascot, a purple harbor seal named Breeze. Members of Hassanamisco Nipmuc and Narragansett Indian Tribe presented drumming, dancing, storytelling, and a version of a traditional “feather game” using a paper fish and audience volunteers. Sherry Pocknett, a Mashpee Wampanoag chef, brought indigenous food from her James Beard award winning restaurant Sly Fox Den Too.
Of course, plenty of familiar faces from the Blackstone River Valley arts and culture community appeared at the event. This included documentary filmmaker and drone expert David Lawlor of Run of the Mill — also appearing in my posts on Blackstone Valley Mill Explorations, First Strike Fest 2023, Historic Blackstone Valley Train Excursion, and Ann & Hope Documentary — and documentary filmmaker Christian de Rezendes — last mentioned in my review of Slatersville: America’s First Mill Village, Season 1 and North Smithfield Heritage Day 2023. On the political side, Mayor Don Grebien of Pawtucket and U.S. Representative Gabe Amo each gave remarks at the event.
Like last year, the fish passage celebration was a fun, upbeat, and collaborative event. I hope this effort will lead to a fish ladder installation so we can someday celebrate while watching the herring swim upstream.