Tarrantine facts for kids
The Tarrantines were a group of Mi'kmaq people, a Native American tribe. They lived in the northern part of New England, especially along the coast of Maine. The name Tarrantine was a word used by the Massachusett people to describe the Mi'kmaq.
Who Were the Tarrantines?
The Tarrantines were part of the larger Mi'kmaq nation. The Mi'kmaq are one of the First Nations (or Indigenous peoples) of North America. They have lived in what is now eastern Canada and parts of the northeastern United States for thousands of years. The Tarrantines were the Mi'kmaq groups who lived closest to the English and French settlers in the 1600s.
Life in the 17th Century
In the early 1600s, the Tarrantines were known as strong and powerful. They often had conflicts with other Native American groups living to their southwest. This was a time when European traders were arriving in North America.
A Time of Change
Around 1617, a terrible sickness spread through many Native American communities. This disease, an epidemic, greatly reduced the number of people in tribes south of the Tarrantines. Luckily, the Tarrantines were not as affected by this sickness. This meant they became even stronger compared to their neighbors.
Access to New Tools
The Tarrantines lived close to European fur traders in Maine and Quebec. This closeness gave them a special advantage. They were able to get firearms (guns) from these traders. Having guns gave them a big technological edge over other tribes. This made them very powerful in the region during that time.
