April, 2025 – Fishing Weir
From April 28 to 30, The Gables partnered with The Massachusett Tribe, City of Salem, Salem Sound Coast Watch, other members and volunteers from the Massachusett in Salem Working Group, and approximately 400 Salem 4th graders! Together with the students, a fishing weir was constructed using sticks, brush, and stone tools. A fishing weir is a traditional indigenous fishing method where a “net” is created by weaving brush through sturdy vertical sticks that have been hammered into the ground using stones as hammers. When the tide comes in, fish easily float over the top of the weir, but as it goes out they get caught in large quantities. That fish is then preserved through smoking to help get through the cold and lean months.
After constructing the weir, students were able to sample the smoked fish, were taught how a mishoon, or traditional indigenous dug out canoe, is constructed, and learn about the role of sustainable practices, such as those used by indigenous groups, in mitigating climate change.