SHREWSBURY, Mass. - The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band celebration of Native American culture was held at Lake Quinsigamond Saturday afternoon.

Families of the Nipmuc tribe spent the last week building their mishoons where, Saturday, they put them to use in the 'Quinsigamond Paddle' through Flint Pond in Shrewsbury through the main lake.

One band member said his Nipmuc ancestors used to sail their canoes throughout the body of water with three canoes currently buried at the bottom of the lake.

The tribe said Nipmuc is a term used to describe freshwater people, which is why they also prepared seafood over the weekend.

The band said this is first time they've gathered to do a mishoon burn and it's important to preserve and celebrate their ancestor's history.

"We're recognizing the things that they did here and continuing the traditions, and that's something that's so important," said Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band Member Sebastian Stedtler. "Especially nowadays a lot of culture has been lost especially our tribes in the east because of colonization, because of first contact."

Stedler said this project has been more than 20 years in the making. The Band has held several other gatherings in the past and hopes to continue the mishoon burn in the future.