THE QUINTESSENTIAL QUAHOG GUIDE
Learning about
WAMPUM
AN INTERVIEW WITH LORÉN SPEARS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF
THE TOMAQUAG MUSEUM. BY ISABELLE PAQUETTE
PHOTOGRAPHY (THIS PAGE, TOP LEFT): COURTESY OF FEARLESS FISH; (RIGHT): COURTESY OF THE TOMAQUAG MUSEUM. (OPPOSITE PAGE): ANGEL TUCKER.
Clam Plans
WHERE TO BUY LOCAL SHELLFISH.
BY JAMIE COELHO
Andrade’s Catch
Andrade’s Catch is a cash-only shop that helps local
quahoggers make a living by giving them a place to
sell their haul. Clams are dug daily in Rhode Island
waters and sold onsite along with many other types
of seafood. 186 Wood St., Bristol, 253-4529, andrades
catchri.com/shop
Twin Shellfish
This little shop in Warwick’s Apponaug Cove sells fresh
shellfish including quahogs, littlenecks, steamers and
conch snails while serving as a member of the Rhode
Island Shellfisherman’s Association. 5 Harrop Ave.,
Warwick, 737-1575, twinshellfish.com
Fearless Fish
Order fresh, local seafood online for curbside pickup,
as part of the Fearless Fish fish share program, or stop
by during open hours. The West Side market announces
what it has in stock on its website and social media
each day, including locally harvested wild clams. 425
West Fountain St., Providence, 415-8905, fearlessfish
market.com
Champlin’s
The Champlin’s fish market offers daily seafood and
Narragansett Bay and Salt Pond wild-caught clams in
various sizes including littlenecks, cherrystones and
the larger quahogs. 256 Great Island Rd., Narragansett,
783-3152, champlins.com
Tony’s Seafood
Stop by the market for local clams and seafood or
order fresh fish and shellfish for home delivery
through the WhatsGood app. Pre-paid curbside pickup
is also still an option. Sign up for the email newsletter
to learn about weekly specials. 1365 Fall River Ave.,
Seekonk, Mass., 508-336-6800, tonysfreshseafood.
com/retail | | CONTINUED ON PAGE 105
The Tomaquag Museum, located in Exeter, is the state’s only
museum dedicated to sharing Indigenous culture, history and art that
connects to current Native American issues. It was founded in 1958
by anthropologist Eva Butler with Mary E. Glasko, also known as
Princess Red Wing of the Narragansett/Pokanoket-Wampanoag Tribe,
who hoped to educate others with her cultural knowledge.
The museum showcases an array of Indigenous collections from
the tribal communities of southern New England, including the
Narragansett tribe. One of these artifacts is the quahog, a Rhode Island
favorite to both shell and eat. But quahogs also play a sacred role in
the diet and culture of the
Narragansett tribe, says
Lorén Spears, executive
director of the Tomaquag
Museum.
“Quahogs were used in
many things, such as soups,
stews or by themselves,”
Spears says. Shells could
“be crushed and placed in gardens to provide nutrients” or, if they
were large enough, used as “ladles, spoons and other gardening tools.”
But the quahog shell’s most significant contribution is the tradition
of wampum, or cylindrical beads, that when strung together are
worn or displayed for special ceremonies and celebrations “honoring
leaders and warriors for their contributions or significance in the
community.”
Wampumpeag means “white beads” in the Algonquian language
spoken by the Narragansett tribe, while wampum belts were used for
visual storytelling. Spears says wampum signified truth and beauty in its
creation, which is why “runners would travel from one village to another
with these strands of beads to signify the truth of the message.”
Wampum is still made and cherished today and can be found in the
Tomaquag Museum’s bead exhibit. Visiting hours are pending, but
virtual tours and programs are available. For more information, call
491-9063 or email [email protected] to book a private
tour as the museum reopens this summer. 390 A Summit Rd., Exeter,
tomaquagmuseum.org
44 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l AUGUST 2020