Wampanoag facts for kids
The Wampanoag are a group of Native American people. They have lived for thousands of years in what is now the American region of New England. This area includes parts of present-day Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The Wampanoag people played a very important role in helping the English settlers, known as the Pilgrims, survive after they arrived on the ship Mayflower in 1620.
In the early 1600s, before the Pilgrims arrived, a serious illness spread among the Wampanoag. This sickness caused many deaths and greatly changed their way of life. But even after these difficult times, their descendants are still here today, keeping their culture and traditions alive.
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The Wampanoag People
The Wampanoag are one of many Native American groups who lived in the northeastern part of North America. Their name, "Wampanoag," means "People of the First Light" or "People of the Dawn." This name shows their connection to the eastern lands where the sun rises.
Life Before European Settlers
Before Europeans came, the Wampanoag lived a life closely connected to nature. They moved with the seasons to find food.
- In spring, they lived near the coast. They fished for cod, salmon, and herring. They also gathered shellfish like clams and oysters.
- In summer, they moved inland to plant crops. They grew corn, beans, and squash. These three crops were so important they were called "the Three Sisters."
- In fall, they harvested their crops and hunted animals like deer, turkey, and bear.
- In winter, they lived in sheltered areas, relying on stored food.
Their homes were called wetuwash (or wetus). These were dome-shaped houses made from wooden frames covered with bark or woven mats. Some Wampanoag also lived in longer, rectangular homes called longhouses.
Meeting the Pilgrims
In 1620, the Pilgrims arrived in their ship, the Mayflower, and settled in what they called Plymouth Colony. The Wampanoag had already been living in this area for a very long time. The first winter was very hard for the Pilgrims, and many of them died.
A Wampanoag man named Tisquantum, often called Squanto, became a key helper. He had learned English after being captured and taken to Europe years before. Squanto taught the Pilgrims how to survive in the new land. He showed them:
- How to plant local crops like corn, using fish as fertilizer.
- How to hunt local animals.
- Which plants were safe to eat and which were poisonous.
- How to find and catch eels in the rivers.
Thanks to Squanto's help, the Pilgrims had a successful harvest in 1621. To celebrate, they held a feast. The Wampanoag leader, Massasoit, and about 90 Wampanoag men joined them. This event is often remembered as the "First Thanksgiving."
Challenges and Survival
Over time, more European settlers arrived. This led to many challenges for the Wampanoag. Their lands were taken, and their way of life was threatened. A major conflict known as King Philip's War (1675–1678) happened between Native Americans and English colonists. This war caused great loss for the Wampanoag and other tribes.
Despite these difficulties, the Wampanoag people survived. They continued to live on their ancestral lands and keep their culture alive. Today, there are several recognized Wampanoag tribes. These include the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). They work to preserve their language, traditions, and history for future generations.
Images for kids
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Block's map of his 1614 voyage, with the first appearance of the term "New Netherland"
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Title page of the first Bible printed in the United States, translated in the Massachusett language by John Eliot
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Tisquantum helped the Plymouth colonists learn to cultivate corn.
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Seal of Plymouth Colony
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"Old Indian Meeting House" built in 1684 in Mashpee, Massachusetts, the oldest Indian church building in the United States
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Philip, King of Mount Hope, 1772, by Paul Revere
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Wampanoag educator at Plimoth Plantation
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Amos Hoskins, an Aquinnah Wampanoag Whaling Captain
See also
In Spanish: Wampanoag para niños
