Wampanoag
The
name Wampanoag (wahm-pah-no-ahg) 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). Location:The Wampanoag formerly lived in
parts of present-day 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.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.
Though this page has been carefully researched, the author does not
claim expertise on the Wampanoag.
Please send questions, comments, and corrections to emuseum@mnsu.edu and include the
web address of this page.
If you are Wampanoag, your feedback is much appreciated.
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head: http://www.wampanoagtribe.net/Pages/index
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe: http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com/
Wampanoag Homesite, Plimoth Plantation: http://www.plimoth.org/features/homesite.php
References:
“ Wampanoag Indians” Media3 Technologies( 1995
– 2000 )
http://www.pilgrims.net/native_americans/
April 10, 2001
http://tc.bostonkids.org/
“ The Wampaonoag” Plimoth Plantation, Inc. (
2000-2001 ) http://www.plimoth.org/Library/Wampanoag/wamp.htm
April 8, 2001
“ Wanpaonoag of Gay Head” Indian Health Service ( 2001 )
http://www.ihs.gov/FacilitiesServices/AreaOffices/Nashville/WAMPANOAG.asp
March 25, 2001 “ Wanpaonoag History ” http://www.tolatsga.org/wampa.html
Written by: Takanori Shimodate
|
