Tag: Munsee

It goes almost without saying – but I’ll say it anyway – that all the land in New Jersey once belonged to the Indigenous people who lived here for millennia before European colonization. After 400 years of wars, treaties, forced removals and migrations, and unfair government policies, little land in this state remains under Native American control.

That’s why a Sept. 15 “rematriation” ceremony in Quinton Township, Salem County, was such an extraordinary and happy event. The ancient Cohanzick people, part of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Nation, were reunited with a piece of Mother Earth where their ancestors once lived.

The ceremony celebrated the purchase of 63 acres within the Burden Hill Forest by the nonprofit Native American Advancement Corporation (NAAC), in partnership with the New Jersey Green Acres Program, New Jersey Conservation Foundation, The Nature Conservancy and the Open Space Institute.

The land, now known as the Cohanzick Nature Reserve, will be used for conservation, education, and cultural events. A former church building on the property has been transformed into a Native American longhouse, where ceremonies and educational classes will be held. The forested land will be used for traditional Native American activities, including foraging for edible and medicinal native plants, hunting, fishing, and outdoor ceremonies.

“We want to marry the culture with conservation. We believe in being one with nature,” explained Tyrese Gould Jacinto, president and CEO of NAAC. “We don’t take or overpower nature; we ARE nature. If we don’t teach this to the children, then nothing changes.”

Jacinto found the property through a real estate listing when the NAAC was looking for available land, and only later discovered that many of her direct ancestors had lived there. Later, while walking the property, she felt a distinct “energy” that made the air on her arms stand up. She…

Continue reading

Exploring the Pre-Statehood Ownership of Massachusetts

Before Massachusetts was formally recognized as a state within the United States, the region was inhabited and owned by various indigenous tribes. The area that is now known as Massachusetts was primarily occupied by the Algonquian-speaking peoples, including tribes such as the Wampanoag, the Nauset, and the Massachusett, from whom the state derives its name.

European exploration and colonization brought significant changes to this landscape. The Pilgrims, arriving on the Mayflower in 1620, established one of the first successful English settlements in North America at Plymouth. This marked the beginning of a wave of English colonization that would sweep across the region.

The Massachusetts Bay Colony, chartered by the English Crown in 1629, became a significant center for trade and governance. The Puritans, seeking religious freedom, played a pivotal role in the colony’s development. Land was acquired through a variety of means, including treaties with and purchases from Native American tribes, as well as through direct grants from the English monarchy.

As tensions between the colonies and the British Crown escalated, Massachusetts became a hotbed of revolutionary activity. Following the American Revolution, Massachusetts officially became the sixth state to join the newly formed United States of America on February 6, 1788.

FAQ:

Q: Who were the original inhabitants of Massachusetts?
A: The original inhabitants were various Algonquian-speaking indigenous tribes, including the Wampanoag, Nauset, and Massachusett.

Q: When did Massachusetts become a state?
A: Massachusetts became a state on February 6, 1788.

Q: How did the English acquire land in Massachusetts?
A: Land was acquired through treaties, purchases from Native Americans, and grants from the English monarchy.

Definitions:

Algonquian-speaking peoples: A group of Native American tribes who speak the Algonquian language family, spread across the northeastern region of North America.

Massachusetts Bay Colony: An English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th…

Continue reading

Who lived in Boston before the British arrived?

Boston, the capital city of Massachusetts, is a vibrant and historically rich metropolis that played a significant role in the formation of the United States. But before the arrival of the British settlers in the early 17th century, the area was already home to indigenous peoples who had been living there for thousands of years.

The Native American tribes that inhabited the Boston area were primarily from the Algonquian language group. The most prominent tribes were the Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc. These tribes had established settlements along the coast and in the surrounding areas, living off the land and engaging in fishing, hunting, and agriculture.

The arrival of the British in the early 1600s marked a turning point for the indigenous peoples of Boston. The settlers established the Massachusetts Bay Colony, which quickly expanded and encroached upon Native American lands. Over time, conflicts arose between the colonists and the Native Americans, leading to the displacement and marginalization of the indigenous populations.

FAQ:

Q: What is the Algonquian language group?
A: The Algonquian language group is a family of Native American languages spoken by various tribes across North America. It includes languages such as Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc.

Q: How did the British settlers impact the indigenous peoples of Boston?
A: The arrival of the British settlers led to the displacement and marginalization of the indigenous peoples. The colonists claimed Native American lands, resulting in conflicts and the loss of traditional territories for the tribes.

Q: Are there any remnants of the indigenous peoples in Boston today?
A: While the indigenous populations were greatly impacted by colonization, efforts have been made to preserve and honor their history and culture. The Massachusett, Wampanoag, and Nipmuc tribes continue to exist today, and there are organizations and initiatives working to promote their heritage.

In…

Continue reading

Join the Ramapo-Munsee Lenape and the South Street Seaport Museum for a special Land and Water Acknowledgement Ceremony and engaging storytelling to honor the Native people of the region the Seaport Museum now calls home. Together, we will delve deeper into the history of the waterways that influenced New Amsterdam and get a deeper understanding of “Where New York Begins.” The free event will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023, at 2pm, at 12 Fulton Street. southstreetseaportmuseum.org/lenapehoking

Ramapo-Munsee Lenape Tribal Leaders will give remarks and discuss the history of Lenapehoking, the Indigenous territory of the Canarsee and Manahatoos, who once cultivated and protected the lands that are now known as the South Street Seaport. The ceremony will include screening of the short film Silent Tribute, A Rainey Film & Media Production, and close with a traditional flute song.

Following the ceremony, Amy Martinez, Ramapo-Munsee Lenape tribal member, will present an Indigenous book reading of a work authored by a member of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape.

A reception will follow the program. Registration is encouraged for this free event but walkups will be accommodated as possible.

Brief Indigenous Seaport History

This history is included in the South Street Seaport Museum Land Acknowledgement that will be dedicated by Ramapo-Munsee Lenape Tribal Leaders.

Although natives used tributaries as central highways through the middle of town, they were obligated to use the same rivers as boundaries with colonial land speculators, thus upsetting their own sense of relationship to the land. All headwaters were considered sacred-places where warfare were banned. Rivers and streams were the main forms of transportation. Canoers would take full advantage of the tides to conserve the (muscle and caloric) energy of the day.

An effective energy conserving practice was to hoist the canoe and all their gear over their heads and walk from one river to…

Continue reading

Who lived in New Hampshire first?

New Hampshire, a picturesque state located in the northeastern part of the United States, has a rich history that dates back thousands of years. But who were the first inhabitants of this beautiful region? Let’s delve into the past and uncover the story of the original inhabitants of New Hampshire.

The Native Americans:
The first people to call New Hampshire home were Native American tribes. These indigenous communities had been living in the area for thousands of years before European settlers arrived. The two major tribes that resided in New Hampshire were the Abenaki and the Pennacook.

The Abenaki tribe, part of the larger Algonquian-speaking Native American group, inhabited the western and northern parts of New Hampshire. They were skilled hunters, gatherers, and farmers, relying on the rich natural resources of the region for their sustenance.

The Pennacook tribe, also part of the Algonquian-speaking group, resided in the southern and eastern parts of New Hampshire. They were known for their agricultural practices, cultivating crops such as corn, beans, and squash.

European Arrival:
In the early 17th century, European explorers and settlers began to arrive in New Hampshire. Englishman Captain John Mason, who received a land grant from the Council for New England, established the first European settlement in the region in 1623. This marked the beginning of significant changes for the Native American tribes.

FAQ:

Q: What happened to the Native American tribes after European arrival?
A: The arrival of European settlers had a profound impact on the Native American tribes. The tribes faced diseases brought by the Europeans, conflicts over land, and forced displacement. Many Native Americans were either killed or displaced from their ancestral lands.

Q: Are there any Native American tribes still present in New Hampshire today?
A: While the Abenaki and Pennacook tribes no longer have a significant…

Continue reading

Celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month in NJ With These Local Events – New Jersey Digest ‘);jQuery(‘.description’).after(‘‘);jQuery(‘#headerimg’).before(‘‘);jQuery(‘#headerimg’).after(‘‘);jQuery(‘h1’).before(‘‘);jQuery(‘h1’).after(‘‘);jQuery(‘h1’).before(‘‘);jQuery(‘h1’).after(‘‘);});]]]]]]]]>]]]]]]>]]]]>]]> Password does not match the confirm password”,”login”:”Email Address”,”password”:”Password”,”headerstyle”:”overlay”,”reading_bar_pos”:”footer”,”reading_bar_h”:”5″}; /* ]]]]]]]]]]> */ ]]]]]]]]>]]]]]]>]]]]>]]>

Continue reading

When he was a younger man, Unkechaug Nation Chief Harry Wallace had a vision.

Wallace saw three sacred bundles — one of which was the talking sticks, a tool of Indigenous democracy that allowed people to take turns speaking.

The vision, he believes, was intended as a message to preserve his community’s language, which had not been spoken for generations, in part due to governmental repression that forced Native Americans to forgo many of their traditions.

“That [his vision] meant that our language was not lost. It simply went into a safe place,” said Wallace. “And it was my mission, my vision, to uncover that safe place and provide a secure place where it could be relearned in a safe, loving way.”

Unkechaug Nation Chief Harry Wallace with a copy of a Native American word list made by Thomas Jefferson. Credit: Newsday/Thomas A. Ferrara

Today, Wallace’s vision — along with that of many other members of the Unkechaug, Shinnecock and Montaukett nations on Long Island — has been realized through the Algonquian Language Revitalization Project.

The project, the result of more than a decade’s worth of collaboration, has produced a language class, a dictionary and a Native American resource library based at Stony Brook University.

According to program coordinator Lizbeth González, the project is part of a national movement to reclaim Native American languages. In some cases, she said, researchers have relied on elders who can speak the languages fluently. But on Long Island, organizers have had to work meticulously, reaching back nearly 400 years to recreate the languages once spoken here.

“There were no teaching materials until the ALRP started to teach,” said González. “There…

Continue reading

How do we learn and teach about First Nations labour in ways that connect to local economies and Canadian history education?

In a new exhibition, Nii Ndahlohke / I Work, at Art Windsor Essex, labour is the central theme for understanding the history and legacies of Mount Elgin Industrial School, an Indian Residential School in southwestern Ontario.

The exhibition brings together artists from the communities whose children attended this institution, and it runs until June 24, 2024. It emerged from the Munsee Delaware Language and History Group, a community-based language and history learning project.

The group has worked together for many years to study and teach Munsee language and history, and supports research and teaching about Munsee people, communities, languages and territories.

Manual labour demands

Mount Elgin was located at Chippewas of the Thames First Nation in southwestern Ontario. Like other Industrial Schools of its era, Mount Elgin was an underfunded religious federal boarding school and a model farm that was expected to generate income to pay for itself.

Students at the school were expected to work at the institute as much as they were expected to attend class.

Their labour was invisible within the school budget. However, the Indian department was aware that Mount Elgin students were not given progressive training in skilled trades and that manual labour demands on students kept them out of the classroom and therefore compromised their education.

Vanessa Dion Fletcher,Aapáachiiw Return Home, 2022, digital prints. (Frank Piccolo/courtesy of Windsor Essex)

Farm labour, domestic service

Manual labour prepared students for limited work opportunities: farm labour for boys and men, and domestic service for girls and women….

Continue reading

5){ assets.pop(); } } if(__tnt.recentFive.set(assets)){ return assets; } return false;…
Continue reading

Courtesy PBS Wisconsin

MADISON — PBS Wisconsin Education is premiering a biography of Electa Quinney, the newest addition to its Wisconsin Biographies collection.

Quinney Elementary School on Kaukauna’s south side is named in honor of the first public school teacher in Wisconsin and a notable mentor in the Mohican community.

The animated video depicting Quinney’s story will premiere at approximately 7:55 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 7 at the conclusion of Finding Your Roots on PBS Wisconsin and is now available on the pbswisconsineducation.org website.

“Electa Quinney: Mohican Teacher and Mentor” was created in collaboration with the Stockbridge Munsee Community to share Quinney’s legacy of generosity and her dedication to education.

The biography explores how Quinney and the Stockbridge-Munsee Mohicans used both traditional Native and non-Native education to keep their traditions alive and preserve their ways of life.

Wisconsin Biographies is a collection of free-to-use, educational, online media resources to enrich social studies and literacy curriculum, using the stories of notable people in Wisconsin history. The collection brings Quinney’s story to life for learners today, with an animated video, a digital book with audio, a gallery of historical images and an educator guide.

Through an inclusive production model, PBS Wisconsin Education seeks to feature identities, perspectives and experiences in the making of educational media. For the production of Electa Quinney: Mohican Teacher and Mentor, PBS Wisconsin Education worked with educators, students, scriptwriters, story consultants, voiceover, art, music talent and advisors, and worked to gain approval on various aspects of the project from the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians Tribal Council.
PBS Wisconsin Education Director Megan Monday said PBS Wisconsin Education was grateful to work with the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians Community, including Monique Tyndall, director of the…

Continue reading