![]() ![]() The three plants work well together to create fertile soil. The Wampanoag grew corn, squash, and beans – crops known as the “Three Sisters” that make a potent growing team, especially in poor, sandy soil that doesn’t retain nutrients or water. īefore learning the best crops to grow in their new home, the Pilgrims would have probably tried (and failed) to grow rye, barley and wheat and a variety of English garden vegetables, according to Soil scientist Tom Sauer, who is with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. Unlike the soil of southern England, which is deep, nutrient-rich, loamy and easy to hand till, the soil in coastal Massachusetts is shallow, sandy and stony, making it hard to work by hand, according to the Soil Science Society of America. These skilled Native American farmers knew how to get the most out of the poor coastal soil and taught the Pilgrims to do the same. ![]() Squanto apparently didn’t hold a grudge since he helped forge an alliance between the Pilgrims and a local tribe, the Wampanoag, another way in which he helped prop up the shaky colony. Some folks might not have taken too kindly to the English after such rough treatment. Meet the Spaniards Turning Tiger Nuts Into Horchata From there, Squanto was able to secure passage back home to Massachusetts in 1619 only to find that his tribe had been decimated by smallpox, tuberculosis, or possibly some other disease contracted through their contact with Europeans (there seems to be some dispute on exactly what killed them). He learned English after being kidnapped with other members of his tribe by an English sea captain named Thomas Hunt in 1614 and sold into slavery in Spain before he was able to make his way to England. Saintly is the only way to describe Squanto. ![]() The Wampanoag grew corn, squash, and beans – crops known as the “Three Sisters”. As it was, around half of the passengers and crew died their first winter in the New World. If he hadn’t befriended the Pilgrims it’s possible they would have perished before their first harvest in the fall of 1621. It’s likely we wouldn’t be celebrating Thanksgiving today at all if not for a saintly Native American named Tisquantum, also called Squanto, a member of the Pawtuxet tribe who spoke English and taught the colonists how to plant native crops (like corn), tap the maple trees for sap, and fish in the Bay. We adapt but still continue to live in the way of the People of the First Light.After arriving in Massachusetts Bay in November 1620 following a harrowing 66-day Atlantic crossing, the 105 Pilgrims (as they are known today) spent the first winter aboard their ship the Mayflower. During the summer, spring, and fall, we moved to the rivers, ponds, and ocean to plant crops, fish and gather foods from the forests.īecause of many changes in North America, we as the Wampanoag cannot live as our ancestors did. We were seasonal people living in the forest and valleys during winter. It was up to the People to keep the balance and respect for all living beings and to receive all the gifts from The Creator. The Wampanoag Homeland provided bountiful food for fulfillment of all our needs. 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. These people are descendants of Native Wampanoag People who were sent into slavery after a war between the Wampanoag and English. Recently, we also found some of our relations in the Caribbean islands. There are multiple Wampanoag communities - Aquinnah, Mashpee, Herring Pond, Assonet, Chappaquiddick, Pocasset, and Seaconke - with smaller groups and communities across the United States and world. Today, about 4,000-5,000 Wampanoag live in New England. The Wampanoag, like many other Native People, often refer to the earth as Turtle Island. We have been living on this part of Turtle Island for over fifteen thousand years. ![]() These villages 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 Bristol and Warren, Rhode Island). In the 1600s, we had as many as 40,000 people in the 67 villages that made up the Wampanoag Nation. Our name, Wampanoag, means People of the First Light. Many people use the word “Indian” to describe us, but we prefer to be called Native People. 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. This article was written by Nancy Eldredge, Nauset Wampanoag and Penobscot. ![]()
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