Native American tribes in Massachusetts facts for kids
Native American tribes in Massachusetts are the groups of Native people who have lived in what is now Massachusetts for thousands of years. Some tribes still live here today, while others were here in the past. This article will tell you about their history and their communities.
Contents
What Are Federally Recognized Tribes?
In Massachusetts, two Native American tribes are "federally recognized." This means the U.S. government officially sees them as sovereign nations. They have a special government-to-government relationship with the United States.
To become federally recognized, a tribe must meet several rules. These rules include showing they have been a Native American group since at least 1900. They must also prove they have a strong community and a government that leads their members.
The federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts are:
What Are State-Recognized Tribes?
Some tribes are recognized by the state government, but not by the U.S. federal government. This is called "state recognition." Massachusetts has a formal way for tribes to get this recognition.
Massachusetts has one state-recognized tribe:
Native American Reservations in Massachusetts
An Indian Reservation is land set aside for Native American tribes. It is managed by the tribe. There are four places in Massachusetts that are or were reservations:
- Chaubunagungamaug (in Worcester County)
- Hassanamesit (in Worcester County)
- Mashpee (in Barnstable County) – This used to be a reservation and is now a town.
- Gay Head (Aquinnah) (on Martha’s Vineyard in Dukes County)
Historical Native American Tribes
Many different Native American tribes lived in what is now Massachusetts long ago. Some of these tribes no longer exist as separate groups in the state. However, some have descendants who are part of tribes in other states or in Canada.
Here are some of the historical tribes:
- Mahican tribe: These people were mainly from New York. Some moved to Massachusetts in the late 1600s. Their descendants are now part of the Stockbridge–Munsee Community in Wisconsin.
- Massachusett: This tribe lived around Massachusetts Bay.
- Nauset tribe: Also known as the Cape Indians, they lived on Cape Cod.
- Nipmuc: This tribe lived in the central part of Massachusetts.
- The Nipmuc Nation is a state-recognized tribe today that represents them.
- Pennacook tribe: They lived in northeastern Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire. Some of their descendants may be part of the Odanak First Nation in Quebec, Canada.
- Pocomtuc tribe: Also called the Deerfield Indians, they lived in western Massachusetts.
- Wampanoag tribe: This large tribe lived from Rhode Island to the southern edge of Massachusetts Bay.
- The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is an active federally-recognized tribe today.
- The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) is also an active federally-recognized tribe.
Cultural Heritage Groups
More than 20 groups in Massachusetts say they represent historical tribes. However, these groups are "unrecognized." This means they do not meet the official rules to be a federally or state-recognized tribe.
