Who are the Wampanoag?
The Wampanoag are one of many Nations of people all over North America
who were here long before any Europeans arrived, and have survived
until today. Many people use the word “Indian” to describe us, but
we would prefer to be called Native People.Our name, Wampanoag , means People of the First Light. In the 1600's we had up to forty thousand people in the sixty-seven villages of the Wampanoag Nation. We covered the territory along the east coast as far as Wessagusset (today called Weymouth) all of what is now Cape Cod and the islands of Natocket and Noepe, (now called Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard) and southeast as far as Pokanocket (now called Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island.) We have been living on this part of Turtle Island for over fifteen thousand years. Among the Wampanoag as well as other Native People, the Earth is often referred to as Turtle Island.
Today we have about four to five thousand Wampanoag in New England. There are three primary groups, Mashpee, Aquinnah , and Manomet , with several others getting together again as well. We also have recently found some of our relations in the Caribbean islands. These People are descendants of Native Wampanoag People that were sent into slavery after a war between the Wampanoag and English. We, as the People, still continue our way of life through our oral traditions (the telling of our family and Nation's history), ceremonies, the Wampanoag language, song and dance, social gatherings, hunting and fishing.
The Wampanoag Homeland provided bountiful food for fulfillment of
all our needs. It was up to the People to keep the balance and respect
for all living beings, to receive all the gifts from The Creator.
We were seasonal people living in the forest and valleys during
winter. Summer and Spring and Fall we moved to the rivers, ponds,
and ocean to plant crops, fish and gather foods from the forests.Today the Earth has changed so much because many people are not respecting Mother Earth. We as the Wampanoag cannot live like our ancestors. We adapt but still continue to live in the way of the People of the First Light.
Homework Help
WHO WERE THE PILGRIMS
Did you know that the "Pilgrims" weren't really pilgrims at all?
WHO ARE THE WAMPANOAG
Learn more about the "People of the First Light."
THE MAYFLOWER
Discover more about the ship, the people, and the journey.
THANKSGIVING
The history goes much further back than Plymouth and 1621.
GROWING FOOD
What it meant to the Wampanoag and the English Colonists.
BUILDING A HOME
Two very different approaches to building a home.
WHAT TO WEAR
Articles on Wampanoag and Colonial clothing.
PLAYING AND LEARNING
Through games we still play today, important skills were developed.
WHAT'S FOR DINNIER
What the Colonists and Wampanoag thought fit to eat and drink.
ANIMALS
The Wampanoag and Colonial views on animals and their purpose.
A CHILD'S ROLE
The important place of children in both cultures.
SARAH MORTON
There were many other days in her life than in the book Sarah Morton's Day.
VOCABULARY WORDS
Definitions to common words and terms used in 17th-Century Plymouth.
