Virginia Ship Repair Association Maritime Academy students participate in the Fort Monroe Canoe Project: Honoring Indigenous Craft and History

Students from Hampton High School’s Virginia Ship Repair Association Maritime Academy (VSRA-MA) worked alongside Indigenous historians as part of the Fort Monroe Canoe Project, a year-long initiative to build authentic dugout canoes. Supported by the Hampton Education Foundation, the Fort Monroe Foundation, and Newport News Shipbuilding, a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries, the project connected students to history, culture, and hands-on craftsmanship.

As part of the Fort Monroe Authority’s commitment to programming and engagement surrounding the narratives of Virginia250, this partnership with Hampton City Schools provided students with unique experiential learning opportunities. Through the project, students explored the Indigenous history of Tsenacommacah, Point Comfort, Old Point Comfort, and present-day Fort Monroe while gaining a deeper understanding of the region’s cultural heritage.

Maritime Academy CTE teacher Connor Dunn, shared, “I am so happy, excited, and truly blessed to have the opportunity to learn along my amazing students. It is more than just carving out a canoe using fire and axes. It is a whole immersive cultural experience. We are learning information that has been passed down through generations and not found in your typical textbook.”

Indigenous interpreters Fallon Burner and Russell Reed lead living history programs where students learn how Virginia’s Indigenous peoples craft traditional dugout canoes. These programs feature craft demonstrations, artifact reproductions, and interactive activities that bring this ancient maritime tradition to life, connecting students and the public to the cultural and historical legacy of the region.

Students will proudly present the completed canoe during the VA250 celebration, where it will later become a lasting artifact on display at Hampton High School.