Indigenous Maritime Crafts Workshop

Rivers are lifelines, especially here in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. But beyond the practical benefits they provide, waterways are a vital element of the Chesapeake’s rich cultural history. How did people survive using the natural resources found here in the Chesapeake Bay? How did rivers influence the Chesapeake Bay’s history and culture?

With this workshop, we will join park rangers from the National Park Service to learn about the Indigenous peoples of the Chesapeake Bay, and their reliance on waterways. We will learn how Native peoples created the technology they needed to live successfully at the water’s edge. Participants will try their hand at making rope, fishing nets, bone fishing hooks, and stone tools. Each participant will be given materials and tutorials to take home and continue practicing these crafts! In addition, the class will head down to the water where we will learn about water quality factors affecting the Elizabeth River and greater Chesapeake Bay today. We will explore different tools that scientists use to gauge water quality, and how these factors can impact keystone species like the Eastern Oyster.