Paddle Into the Past - Dugout Canoe Rides on Lake Waramaug With the Institute for American Indian Studies

Have you ever wanted to paddle into the past? On Sunday, August 27, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Warren Town Beach (26D) North Shore Road in New Preston on beautiful Lake Waramaug, you can try your paddling skills in an authentically recreated dugout canoe with the Institute for American Indian Studies. 

Canoes have been used for transportation, fishing, and recreation by indigenous peoples worldwide for centuries. In the Eastern Woodlands, dugout canoes were the major form of transportation for Native Americans for thousands of years. If you have ever wondered how a burned-out log could float on water and what it would feel like to ride in a traditional Native American canoe, don’t miss the “Can You Canoe” event! 

Traditional Native American canoes were constructed out of a single log using a scorch and strip technique in which the builder used controlled burning and stone chiseling tools to carve out the center of the log. In Eastern North America, most dugout canoes were made from a single log of chestnut or pine. They were often small, light, and fast and used for hunting and transportation. Many of the canoes recovered in the northeast United States date back 5,000-plus years! However, archeologists believe that they were most likely constructed and used thousands of years earlier. Interestingly, all of the canoes discovered in New England were found submerged which helped to preserve them. 

The canoe that will be used during this event belongs to the Institute for American Indian Studies and is reconstructed using traditional techniques by Jeff Kalin. Because they have been made within the last few years, they can be safely taken out for a ride on occasion. The highlight of this event is to experience how differently a traditional Native American canoe glides through the water as compared to modern canoes that are often feather-light and made of fiberglass. Each participant that takes a ride will receive a commemorative sticker for paddling into the past. 

Pre-registration is required and can be made at http://www.iaismuseum.org or by calling 860-868-0518 or emailing events@iaismuseum.org. Please reserve a time slot when registering online. The cost is $10 for members of the museum and $15 for non-members. If you are attending on the day of the event, only cash or a check will be accepted. 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allow visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.