Wampanoag

The Wampanoag, also called Wôpanâak, are a Native American people from the Northeastern Woodlands. Today, they live mainly in southeastern Massachusetts and parts of eastern Rhode Island. Their traditional lands include the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

Before Europeans arrived in the 1600s, the Wampanoag had many people living in villages. Sadly, a sickness from European ships made their numbers smaller. Later, they fought against the colonists in a big war called King Philip's War.

Today, the Wampanoag keep their traditions alive through stories, ceremonies, music, and dancing. There are two recognized tribes: the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Efforts are underway to teach the Wampanoag language in schools.

Name

The name Wampanoag probably comes from Wapanoos. This first appeared on a map by Adriaen Block in 1614. The Wampanoag people say this word means "People of the First Light." Increase Mather wrote about this name in 1676. He was describing the tribes who fought against the English in King Philip's War.

In 1616, John Smith called one of the Wampanoag tribes the Pokanoket. Early records used Pokanoket for the tribe that led the Wampanoag group when the English began settling in southeastern New England. The Pokanoket lived near where Warren, Rhode Island is today. They lived on the land where Bristol, Rhode Island later grew. From Mount Hope Bay in Bristol, Metacomet began King Philip's War. This was the first big war where Native American tribes fought against English settlers in North America.

Wampanoag groups and locations

List

Culture

Further information: Massachusetts

The Wampanoag people lived in southern New England. They moved to different places depending on the season. The men went far north and south along the coast to fish. Sometimes they stayed away for weeks or months. The women grew important crops like corn, beans, and squash. These crops were called the "three sisters." They also added fish and game to their food.

In Wampanoag society, women owned property. Family status came from the mother’s side. When a couple married, they usually lived with the woman’s family. Women could help choose leaders called sachems. Men handled matters with other tribes and in warfare. Both women and men could become sachems. They had to discuss important decisions with others before making choices.

Language and revival

The Wampanoag people spoke Wôpanâak. Wôpanâak is a type of the Massachusett language. The Massachusett language is part of the Algonquian languages family. In 1663, the first Bible published in America was translated into Wampanoag. A missionary named John Eliot did this work. He also made a way to write the language.

After the American Revolution, fewer people spoke Wôpanâak.

Jessie Little Doe Baird is from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. In 1993, she started the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project. Because of her work, some children are now speaking Wôpanâak again after more than a hundred years. The project is teaching teachers. This will help more children learn the language. They are also making books and other things for a school to teach Wôpanâak. Baird made a big dictionary and other books to help the language. In 2018, Mashpee High School started a class to teach the language.

History

See also: Wampanoag treaty

The Wampanoag met colonists in the 1500s when European ships came to New England. In 1524, Giovanni de Verrazano met tribes like the Wampanoag near Rhode Island. Some Wampanoag were taken away by a man named Captain Thomas Hunt in 1614.

A sickness affected the Wampanoag between 1616 and 1619. Many think it was smallpox, but it might have been another sickness from European ships. Many Wampanoag and nearby groups were lost.

In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived in Plymouth. A Wampanoag man named Tisquantum (or Squanto) taught them how to grow food and fish. This helped the Pilgrims survive. Tisquantum met the Wampanoag leader Massasoit in 1621.

The Wampanoag are known for being part of the First Thanksgiving, but the story is more complex than just a happy event.

Massasoit got sick in 1623 but recovered with help from the colonists. In 1632, the Narragansetts attacked his village, but the colonists helped fight back.

After 1632, more colonists called Puritans moved into areas around Boston. In 1638, they attacked the Pequot Confederation.

Conversion to Christianity

After 1650, John Eliot and others tried to teach local tribes about their beliefs. Those who joined lived in special villages called Praying towns. They were encouraged to follow colonial rules. Some people think the sicknesses made some Wampanoag seek new spiritual guidance.

On Martha's Vineyard, Wampanoag who joined kept many of their own traditions. More Wampanoag women joined than men.

Metacomet (King Philip)

Massasoit gave his sons English names. His older son Wamsutta was named Alexander, and his younger son Metacom was named Philip. After Massasoit died, Alexander became leader but fell ill and died. Philip then became leader.

Philip worried that colonists would take over their land and way of life. He made alliances with other tribes.

King Philip's War

Main article: King Philip's War

In 1675, some Wampanoag attacked colonists, starting King Philip's War. The war spread through New England.

The war turned against Philip by spring 1676. Philip was shot and killed in August 1676.

Consequences of the war

With Metacomet dead, almost all the Wampanoag were lost; only about 400 survived. Many Wampanoag were taken away to work far from home.

18th to 20th century

Mashpee

The mainland Wampanoag were moved to live with other groups. Mashpee on Cape Cod became a place for them. Over time, the state took much of their land.

Wampanoag on Martha's Vineyard

Martha's Vineyard had areas for Wampanoag people. The Gay Head area kept much of its land and traditions. The Wampanoag on Nantucket Island were lost by 1855 from a sickness.

Sachems of the Wampanoag

The Wampanoag people have had many leaders called sachems. These leaders helped guide their communities and make important choices for their people.

Current status

Today, there are two federally recognized Wampanoag tribes and one state-recognized Wampanoag tribe. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has about 3,200 enrolled citizens. The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) had 1,364 enrolled tribal citizens. The state-recognized Herring Pond Tribe has not posted their citizen records.

A project began in 2015 to update reports on the Wampanoag people.

Federally recognized Wampanoag tribes

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

Main article: Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has more than 1,400 enrolled members. They have held an annual powwow since 1924. The tribe gained federal recognition in 2007. They own some land and have plans for development.

Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) is located in Aquinnah, Massachusetts. They have a formal land reservation on Martha's Vineyard and were recognized by the federal government in 1987. The tribe has around 1,121 enrolled citizens.

State-recognized tribe

The Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe is recognized by the state of Massachusetts. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey granted them this recognition in 2024.

Cultural heritage groups

Further information: List of organizations that self-identify as Native American tribes § Massachusetts, and List of organizations that self-identify as Native American tribes § Rhode Island

Many groups say they are part of the Wampanoag people. The Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs works with some of these groups.

Some of these groups have said they might want to be officially recognized, but none have finished the process yet. Groups that say they are Wampanoag but are not officially recognized include:

1. Assawompsett-Nemasket Band of Wampanoags
2. Assonet Band of Wampanoags
3. Chappaquiddick Wampanoag Tribe, South Yarmouth, MA (Letter of Intent to Petition 05/21/2007)
4. Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Holliston, MA
5. Nova Scotia Wampanoag Council, Clark's Harbour, NS
6. Pocasset Wampanoag Indian Tribe, Great Falls, MA (Letter of Intent to Petition 1/23/1995)
7. Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe, Warwick, RI (Letter of Intent to Petition 10/29/1998)

Demographics

Notable historical Wampanoag people

Here are some important Wampanoag people from history:

• Askamaboo, a leader from Nantucket in the 1600s
• Crispus Attucks, the first person killed in the Boston Massacre
• Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, the first Native American to graduate from Harvard College
• Corbitant, a leader of the Pocasset in the 1600s
• Massasoit, a leader who became friends with the pilgrims on the Mayflower
• Metacom or Metacomet, also called Philip, Massasoit's second son who started King Philip's War
• John Sassamon, an early translator
• Wamsutta, Massasoit's oldest son, also known as Alexander
• Weetamoo of the Pocasset, a woman who helped Metacom; one of her husbands was Wamsutta, brother to King Philip (Metacom)

Representation in other media

The Wampanoag people have appeared in books and films. In Moby Dick, a character named Tashtego is a Wampanoag harpooneer. The book was written by Herman Melville. A documentary from 2009 called We Shall Remain shows Wampanoag history.