[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 81 (Wednesday, May 28, 2014)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page E847] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] IN RECOGNITION OF THE SMITHSONIAN EXPOSITION OF THE WAMPANOAG MISHOON ______ HON. WILLIAM R. KEATING of massachusetts in the house of representatives Wednesday, May 28, 2014 Mr. KEATING. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the addition of a piece of Massachusetts'--and our nation's--history to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). In September 2013, a traditional canoe of the Wampanoag tribe, known as a mishoon, was delivered to the NMAI from Plimoth Plantation in Massachusetts-- completing its trip down the coast from the Wampanoag's historical home to our nation's capital. Here, it will be proudly displayed as a symbol of the cultural significance and technological advancement of the Tribe. The history of the Wampanoag is deeply intertwined with the turbulent settlement and birth of our nation. Known as ``the People of the First Light,'' the Wampanoag Tribe inhabited southern New England at the arrival of the first European settlers. It was the Wampanoag with whom the Pilgrims celebrated the first ``Thanksgiving,'' and it was from the preceding and continued interactions between these settlers and that native population that our modern judicial system and promotion of civil rights evolved. Today, the Wampanoag Tribe continues to play an active role in promoting tribal rights and preserving their heritage. Plimoth Plantation's Wampanoag Indigenous Program is a shared museum that has worked to educate citizens across the country and raise public awareness of the shared history, rich culture, and traditions of the tribe. The gift of the hand-made mishoon--a vessel of passage and goods--is symbolic of the role of the Wampanoag people have played from the early years of our nation to our continued fight for equality and tribal rights. I am proud that it has found a home at the NMAI--an institution devoted to the preservation of our nation's intricate history. Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and their constituents to join me in experiencing a page out of history and visiting the Wampanoag mishoon at the NMAI. ____________________