Native Islanders

 
  

The Wampanoag are the Native American people that first settled Martha's Vineyard thousands of years ago.

Tribal legend has it that the Wampanoag giant, Moshup, dragged his toe in the ocean and formed the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.

The scientific explanation is that the islands were once part of the mainland, and that, as the sea rose after the last Ice Age, the people who were to become the island Wampanoag merely decided to stay.

The Tribe was federally acknowledged in 1987. Today, the up-island town of Aquinnah is home to the Wampanoag. Here are most of the Tribal-owned lands, Tribal housing, and the Tribe's museum and cultural center.

The Wampanoag influence is an integral part of present day Martha's Vineyard culture.

Recently I was thinking about what it must have been like, to be part of the Tribe back in the day, before the white settlers. When nobody had ever heard of Martha's Vineyard, but instead, called this place Noepe, the Wampanoag word for land amid the streams.

There were several different villages scattered throughout the island, but even so, there must have been reasons to push the birch-bark canoes into the sea and venture off-island, seven miles across the sound to the mainland.

Tribal councils with the mainland Wampanoag? Hunting trips pursuing animals that didn't live here, such as bears or wolves? Marriages arranged to bring new blood on-island and off?

Then I thought, were these early islanders the same type of curiosity that modern-day vineyarders appear to be to many folks? Did the mainland Indians come up to them at, say, a wedding feast, and ask, "So, what's it like to live on an island?" Or, "What do you all do out there all winter?"

Because, though day-to-day Wampanoag living was probably much the same on or off-island, just as it is today for vineyarders and mainlanders, like today, there must've been some obvious differences.

Wampanoag from Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were whalers extraordinaire. They are said to have taught the early white settlers this trade, thus kick-starting the whole whaling industry.

No such whaling on the mainland. But more human interaction maybe? Better game? Easier trading? Certainly, like today, more choices. And without having to paddle your canoe for hours across the sea, fighting the wind and waves.

It takes a certain type of person to live on an island. Let's face it; it takes a certain type of person to live just about anywhere you can think of.

And maybe it's just wistful thinking or plain craziness, but it dawned on me that I might have a lot more in common with these early Native islanders than I ever could have imagined.

 

Comments

[SuziCate]

I love,love,love this post. I love legends, anything old, and anything to do with Native American culture. Can you imagine living back in the day? No wonder people died so young. Oh, and you make me so want to visit your Martha's Vineyard! You are a great storyteller/historian. Thanks, Maureen for another great read.

[Pseudo]

I loved this post. Growing up in So Cal, my favorite part of history was learning the Native American stories.

You should link this up to Mr. Linky for a travel post Maureen.

[Sprite's Keeper]

So wistful and lovely.
I grew up in an area surrounded by reservations and tried to learn all I could about the cultures of the Seminole and Miccosoukee (sp) tribes. Very interesting histories both before and after others settled.

[~The South Dakota Cowgirl~]

I love this post because I am in love with a Sioux Indian and live on a Sioux reservation. I have yet to experience a lot of their tribal history, such as Sundance, but I have learned so much about their culture and them as a people. I love them. And it breaks my heart that the government and white settlers treated them like they did. Zach's dad is like a walking encyclopedia of tribal history and US history as well, because he has not only been the chairman of the tribe, twice, he's lobbied congress and helped these people in so many ways.

I realize I should be on my way to TX now, but I woke up sick this early this morning so I'm slow getting around.

[Lynn]

My Uncle lives on Vancouver Island, and for a little while on Pender Island, one of many little islands off British Columbia's south-west coast. I loved going to visit. The difference is almost tangible, yet inexplicable. Slower, for sure. I think the air is different on an island, and breathing it causes a vital change in the minds and hearts of the people that live there, and when you visit, it doesn't take long to feel the effects of it yourself, and you want to put off going back to the mainland as long as possible. And that WAS a long sentence, wasn't it?

Lovely post, Maureen. We have a book about Thanksgiving that someone gave Julia about the Wampanoag and the settlers. It's a goofy little cartoon thing, but it's kind of cute. I'm pretty sure that it's not meant to be taken as historically accurate, however. :oD

[Midlife Slices]

I loved this very informative post. Someday I'd love to visit Martha's Vineyard. I'm sure it's lovely.

[debbie]

I didn't know any of the history of that area. Fascinating.

[PLRH]

Excellent history lesson! Now I want to visit the island! Plus learn more about the indigenous people of Florida (and NJ).

[Mama Badger]

This post was lovely. Part interesting fact, part introspection (did I make that word up?)

You might want to link this bad boy up to Pseudo's Travel Tip Thursday so more people can enjoy it. Just a thought!

[Jane]

I often come upon a "scene" or a place and wish I had a crystal ball to look into so I can see how it was in its hay-day. What an interesting vision you've created of your home island.

[LPC]

Time for a hunting expedition;).

[Jan]

This is GREAT - I have a serious hard-on for paleoanthropology.

Can I say that here?

As for the Wampanoag, it sounds like they have some serious explaining to do to the humpbacks, teaching the white devils to whale and all.

And what DO you do on that island all winter? (That just cracked me up!)

[Gropius]

What a fabulous post! I often wonder the same sorts of things about the Seminoles who occupy the Florida Everglades--such a beautiful and productive but unforgiving environment.

[jessica]

it takes a certain kind of someone to live where i live and sadly, I "ain't" that someone.

[Ocean Girl]

Wonderful interesting post Maureen. Such is the enchantment of an island and its native.

That picture of the ledge is beautiful. It holds many stories.

[She Writes]

I like how you wrote it atkes a certain kind of person to live on an island. That is the beginning of a book!

[lisleman]

leave those whales alone! I find amazing that they would hunt whales and not the many other fish out there. Of course, maybe you forgot to mention the other fishing. Now I curious if they fished with nets or spears or what? Ok I've been to New England a few times but never to those islands. Would they be able to catch lobsters and crabs? Do you fish there?

[kathryn]

This was lovely, Maureen.

But, my thoughts would have had the opposite effect: I would've been imagining the Island people walking down the street of the mainland...much like the scene in It's a Wonderful Life when George discovers Pottersville's main drag...with all the girlie show signs?...

Aw. Never mind.

[Heather]

I love this post! Not that all your posts are great, but... Anything that takes my mind to a different time is fabulous. It was like I could see those indians going through their regular everyday business.

[Jason]

Interesting stuff.

Sometimes, I would like to live on an island. An uninhabited one, except I need it to have all of the amenities that I require. But no people. Could you arrange that for me?

[Dreamfarmgirl]

I love this post and your photo -- the rock is extraordinary. I didn't know anything about the native Americans on your island, and I know very little about your island at all, except its name and location. It sounds romantic to me to live on an island just far enough away from the mainland to be autonomous. Especially an island that is mainly populated by summer vacationers, so that the rest of the year you must feel like you are the chosen ones to whom the island really belongs.

[ZenMom]

What an interesting picture you paint of your home - and you!

[Twenty Four At Heart]

That's one BIG toe he had! : )

[Casey]

I can't imagine just pulling up to a random island and being like "this looks good, let's settle here". Can you? I can barely even pick a spot for my blanket at the beach or a parking spot at the mall.

Great post, as usual. ;)

[Brenda]

Lovely, lovely photo. ;-)