Native American tribes in Massachusetts facts for kids
Native American tribes in Massachusetts are the Native American tribes and their reservations that existed historically and those that still exist today in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A Narragansett term for this region is Ninnimissinuok.
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Federally recognized tribes
Massachusetts has two federally recognized tribes. They have met the seven criteria of an American Indian tribe: being an American Indian entity since at least 1900, a predominant part of the group forms a distinct community and has done so throughout history into the present; holding political influence over its members, having governing documents including membership criteria, members having ancestral descent from historic American Indian tribes, not being members of other existing federally recognized tribes, and not being previously terminated by the U.S. Congress.
State-recognized tribes
State-recognized tribes do not have the government-to-government relationship with the United States federal government that federally recognized tribes do. The state has developed a formal process for state recognition, and Massachusetts has one state-recognized tribe.
American Indian reservations
These are four Indian Reservations in Massachusetts.
- Chaubunagungamaug (Worcester County)
- Hassanamesit (Worcester County)
- Mashpee (Barnstable County) (former reservation, now a town)
- Gay Head (Aquinnah) (Dukes County — Martha’s Vineyard)
Historical tribes of Massachusetts
These are some of the tribes that have existed in what is now Massachusetts. Most no longer exist as functioning American Indian tribes within the state; however, some are tribes in other states or in Canada.
- Mahican tribe, from New York but some migrated to Massachusetts in the late 17th century
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- Wiekagjoc
- Mechkentowoon
- Wyachtonoc
- Westenhuck (Stockbridge), descendants are members of the Stockbridge–Munsee Community in Wisconsin
- Massachusett, Massachusett Bay
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- Nauset tribe, also known as Cape Indians, Cape Cod
- Nipmuc, central plateau
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- Nipmuc Nation, state-recognized tribe represents them today
- Monashackotoog, historic band
- Wunnashowatuckoog, Worcester County, historic band
- Pennacook tribe, northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, descendants may be part of the Odanak First Nation in Quebec, Canada. Other descendants moved to the praying towns of Wamesit and Natick.
- Pocomtuc tribe, also Deerfield Indians, western Massachusetts
- Wampanoag tribe, Rhode Island to south edge of Massachusetts Bay
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- Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, active federally-recognized tribe
- Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), active federally-recognized tribe
- Patuxet, Plymouth, historic band
Cultural heritage groups
More than 20 organizations claim to represent historic tribes within Massachusetts; however, these groups are unrecognized, meaning they do not meet the minimum criteria of a federally recognized tribe or a state-recognized tribe.
