Canoeing on the Quinobequin: Indigenous Perspectives, Wildlife, and Renewal on the Charles River

Glide through the scenic, winding passage of King Philip's Lookout on a guided paddle as you experience the Charles River, known as the Quinobequin in the Massachusett language, through new eyes. Wampanoag-Nipmuc Culture Keeper and wildlife photographer Waban Webquish will weave Indigenous knowledge and decades of local river experience into a rich, thought-provoking exploration of this historic landscape.

Open to paddlers of all skill levels, this 3.5-mile journey to South Natick offers a chance to experience the river from a new perspective, alive with muskrats, nesting Eastern Kingbirds, Buttonbush, and Wild Rice. Along the way, you'll learn how these plants and animals have long been part of a thriving ecosystem shaped by and deeply connected to the Nipmuc people for thousands of years before colonization, about current stewardship efforts, and how development affects these habitats.

The trip concludes at a stretch of river on the cusp of renewal, where a concrete spillway is slated for removal to restore natural flow—an exciting rewilding effort supported by both Mass Audubon and local Indigenous communities.