Fish Migration Community Parade for Blackstone River

Hosted by the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative. All are welcome to join in this rain-or-shine community event from 1-4pm featuring drumming, dancing, crafts, music, and more. Led by the Narragansett Indian Tribe and the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc, this event intends to bring the community together with partners of the Blackstone Watershed Collaborative, including the Blackstone River Watershed Council/Friends of the Blackstone, Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park, Save the Bay, and others.

Join us at 67 Roosevelt Avenue to be the voice of Kittacuck/Mishkittakooksepe1 – the Blackstone River. Migratory fish such as herring have been blocked by dams from swimming up the river for over 200 years, but we’re working to bring them back! This family-friendly event will bring our community together to celebrate this important species and others that would benefit from creating a way for fish to get around the dams on the river.

1PM: We’ll have food trucks, face painting, and a 20’ model of the river on display. We want to hear from you – share information on what you love about the Blackstone Valley as you explore diverse partner booths, and bring a herring pin of your own home (limited quantities available).

2PM: Immerse yourself in the drumming and dance circle led by the Narragansett Indian Tribe, Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc, and other local tribal partners. Together, we’ll celebrate herring and other migratory fish's important history to tribal culture for millennia and why bringing them back is beneficial for Pawtucket’s tourism, recreation, economy, & beyond. Tribal members will speak and be joined by invited speakers Mayor Grebien of Pawtucket, RI Governor McKee, EPA Regional Administrator David Cash, RI Senator Whitehouse, RI Senator Reed, and RI State Representative Gabe Amo.

3PM: The event will end with a community parade, where we invite you to carry colored paper fish around the block in Pawtucket to symbolically “migrate” them upstream over the lower two dams on a one-mile parade route, starting and ending at Slater Mill. Fish costumes, hats, and themed crafts are welcome!

Water filling stations will be available – please bring your own bottle to reduce waste. Additional parking is available across the street at the Visitor Center (175 Main St, Pawtucket, RI 02860).

For more information, contact Stefanie Covino at scovino@clarku.edu or visit https://www.blackstonecollaborative.org/kittacuck for a detailed agenda.