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AQUINNAH WAMPANOAG |
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WAMPANOAG http://www.newigwam.com The Wampanoag, who inhabit the southeastern portion of Massachusetts including Cape Cod, eastern Rhode Island and Martha's Vineyard are the tribe who lived most closely with the Pilgrims when they landed at Plymouth in the early 1600's. They are also the tribe that was most devastated by King Philip's War (1675-76) when their Chief Sachem Pometacomet, or Metacomet, or King Philip, declared war on the colonies. Today's Wampanoag Indians in Massachusetts can be separated into 5 groups, with the Mashpee Indian Tribe on Cape Cod and the Gay Head Wampanoag's on Martha's Vineyard being the largest groups, followed by the Assonet (from New Bedford to Rehoboth), the Herring Pond (from Wareham to Middleboro), and the Nemasked (Middleboro). Their total population is more than 3,000. The Gay Head Wampanoags received federal recognition in 1987 with about 300 members living on Martha's Vineyard. They are widely known for their clay pottery and crafts. The Mashpee Wampanoags are recognized by the state of Massachusetts, but are still being refused federal recognition, have the largest number of people with more than 600 members living in Mashpee, Massachusetts, and more than 1,200 members in total. The Mashpee Wampanoag are widely known for their 4th of July Powwow when Wampanoags and Native Americans from all New England tribes "come home" for the Native American celebration. http://www.newigwam.com |
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REPRINTED FROM PILGRIMS THEME UNIT |
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WAMPANOAG http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/northamerica/wampanoagculture.html LOCATION: The Wampanoag formerly occupied parts of the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, Martha’s Vineyard, and adjacent islands. Nowadays, they reside in southeastern Massachusetts between the eastern shore of Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island to the western end of Cape Cod. LANGUAGE: They speak their own language, Algonquin, north- dialect like the Massachuset, Nauset, and Narragansett.The name Wampanoag means 'eastern people' or 'people of the dawn'. They are also called Massasoit or Philip’s Indians. In the early historic records they were very commonly referred to as Pokanoket (Poncakenet). CULTURE: They were semi sedentary, with seasonal movements between fixed sites. Corn (maize) was the staple of their diet, supplemented by fish and game. More specifically, each community had authority over a well-defined territory from which the people derived their livelihood through a seasonal round of fishing, planting, harvesting and hunting. The Wampanoag way of life fostered a harmonious relationship between the people and their natural environment, both physical and spiritual. Also, they respected the traditions and the elders of their nation. HISTORY: The Pilgrims settled at Plymouth in 1620. Massasoit, the Wampanoag Chief, made a peace treaty with the English that was observed until his death in 1660. Wamsutta, (known as Alexander by the British), Massasoit's son, was charged with selling land that had been promised to the settlers. While in Plymouth, Wamsutta became ill and died later at his home. He was succeeded by his brother, Metacom (known as Philip by the English) who was able to placate the English leaders and thus, reduce the increasing tensions between the two groups. Later, he organized a confederacy of tribes to drive out the settlers. King Philip and other leading chiefs were killed during this war, known as King Philip’s War. The Wampanoag and Narraganset were almost exterminated. Some survivors fled to the interior, while others joined their kinsmen on the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard where the people had remained neutral. Disease and epidemics destroyed most of the Nantucket Indians, but mixed descendants survive to the present, particularly on Martha’s Vineyard. The work of making a living was organized on a family level. Families gathered together in the spring to fish, in early winter to hunt and in the summer they separated to cultivate individual planting fields. Boys were schooled in the way of the woods, where a mans skill at hunting and ability to survive under all conditions were vital to his families well being. The women were trained from youth to work diligently in the fields and around the family wetu. http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/cultural/northamerica/wampanoagculture.html |
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Fast Turtle is a Wampanoag who lives in Massipee, the area just west of Plimoth. He has a wife and two children. When he was a boy, Fast Turtle was chosen and trained to be a pniese (pa-NEES), a special kind of warrior counselor. In the fall of 1997, students talked to Fast
Turtle about Wampanoag life in 1621, how the Wampanoag may have felt
about the new European settlers, and the significance of the harvest
feast. Fast Turtle is the Indian name for Russell
Peters, a Mashpee Wampanoag of the Turtle Clan who lives in Brookline,
Massachusetts. Mr. Peters is an author, film producer, exhibit curator,
and public speaker who works to educate people about Mashpee Wampanoag
history and culture. IMPORTANT NOTE:
Fast Turtle of 1621 is a fictionalized character. It is unlikely that
there was a Wampanoag named "Fast Turtle" who lived in Massippee in 1621
or who attended the Thanksgiving feast with the Pilgrims. Russell
Peters, a present-day Wampanoag, answered questions under the name "Fast
Turtle" because this is his real Indian name. In some cases, Russell
Peters added a message from the present-day perspective. |
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Below are Links to Native American People/Tribes Pages |
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