Spiritualism: A Wampanoag Tradition

Before the entrance of European prospectors into the new world, the Wampanoag people celebrated their religion within the peace and harmony of their tribal lifestyle. Like many other North American peoples, the primary interests of their religion, referred to as “Spiritualism” by the English language, was to praise Mother Earth for giving their people the ability to provide for themselves from the living things available to them in plenty. Within Spiritualism, each Wampanoag tribe has certain head positions to help facilitate the worship of Mother Earth and other Wampanoag Legends as well as provide spiritual healing for the people within their tribe. This position of the Medicine Man is still held in high regard in modern Wampanoag societies to this day in order to continue the knowledge of Spiritualism.

Major Figures in Spiritualism

There are many mythological figures whose stories are told and are actively worshiped within Wampanoag Spiritualism. Some figures tend to mimic Western religions and are carried on to personify Christian mythological figures. The primary being in Spiritualism is known as “Kehtannit” or “Great Spirit” in the Wampanoag language. This being is known to be the creator of all without any human personification. In contrast, “Hobbomock”, or “Spirit of Death” in the Wampanoag language, is the being attributed to the death of all Wampanoag people and is often personified as an evil being. In addition to these two primary characters of the major facets of any religion, life and death, Wampanoag Spiritualism has many additional figures and mythological creatures that help contribute to their tribal society by representing their cultural identity and the mysteries of the far expanses of the Americas.

The Route to Christianity

In the midst of the death and destruction of many native peoples upon the arrival of European settlers and their accumulation of native peoples' lands, many tribes in the Bostonian area as well as others had to make the tough decision to accumulate to some degree into European society. Among assuming patriarchal structure (whereas the Wampanoag peoples were traditionally matriarchal), donning European clothing, and learning how to speak English, European missionaries actively forced Native American peoples such as the Wampanoag to reject their traditional beliefs in order to accept Christianity. Due to the rise of a multitude of issues within their society such as alcoholism and the small pox epidemic, the people of the Wampanoag (especially the women) had no choice but to follow these missionaries' demands and leave Spiritualism behind. Because of this process of conversion, many legends and religious customs remain shrouded in the modern Wampanoag lifestyle.

Eck, Diana. "Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) Center Profile." The Pluralism Project at Harvard University. Harvard College, 1 Jan. 1997. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. .

"Wampanoag Religion." TeacherWeb. TeacherWeb, Inc., 19 May 2009. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. .

Redish, Laura. "Native Languages of the Americas: Massachusett/Wampanoag Indian Legends." Native Languages of the Americas. Native Languages of the Americas, 1 Jan. 1998. Web. 26 Mar. 2015. .

Gender among the Wampanoag

     The Wampanoag people base their way of making a living on a family level. The family’s sole duty is to support itself independently. Families support themselves through seasonal movements. After spring and summer pass they leave the shores and move inland for winter. During spring the families come together to fish, they hunt game in the winter, and they spread out during the summer in order to cultivate particularized planting fields. Boys are taught the ins and the outs of the woods. Qualities such as being a skillful hunter, and being able to survive under all conditions are vital to the family’s well-being. Women are taught how to work diligently around the wetu (portable oval house that the Wampanoag people live in) and in the fields. They're also taught how to gather fruits, nuts, and produce from the habitat.

 

 

     Production of food among the Wampanoag is also divided along gender lines. Men and women both have specific tasks, but the women play an active role in most of the stages of food production. Women are responsible for 75% of all food production in Wampanoag societies. They take care of the farming and gathering of nuts, berries, fruit, etc.. Wampanoag men are mainly responsible for the fishing and hunting. Women have economic, socio-political, and spiritual roles within their communities because the Wampanoag society relies so heavily on this kind of work.

 



 

 

“Who Are the Wampanoag?”. Plimoth Plantation. Accessed March 24, 2015. http://www.plimoth.org/learn/just-kids/homework-help/who-are-wampanoag

“The Wampanoag Tribe”. Abcteach.com. Accessed March 24, 2015. http://www.abcteach.com/free/r/rc_native_wampanoag_upperelem.pdf

Clothing in Aquinnah Wampanoag Culture

Traditional Clothing in Wampanoag Culture

In the past, before the Aquinnah Wampanoag integrated more into modern society, the tribespeople wore clothing and painted themselves in tradition with their gender. Neither men nor women were required to wear shirts. Moccasins were the common footwear of the Aquinnah Wampanoag, along with numerous other Algonquian tribes. Warriors of the Wampanoag were known to paint their faces and decorate themselves with tribal tattoos. For headwear, the Aquinnah Wampanoag wore headbands adorned with feathers that pointed straight up, as shown below.

 

 

Men of the Aquinnah Wampanoag wore a breechcloth with leggings. A breechcloth is a cut of tanned deerskin made to be worn between the legs and be tucked into a belt to hold the cloth in place. The leggings were made of soft leather and also fastened to a belt. These leggings could be decorated with beads or quillwork to add patterns and designs. Aquinnah Wampanoag men wore their hair in either a Mohawk or shaved except for one lock of hair on the top of the head, otherwise known as a scalplock.

Breechcloth and Belt

Traditionally, women of the Aquinnah Wampanoag wore skirts that came down to the knees. Young girls could wear a breechcloth along with young boys until they came of age to wear skirts. Woman could also wear leggings, although theirs were much shorter than those of the men. Women of the Aquinnah Wampanoag traditionally wore their hair long.

 

Aquinnah Wampanoag Clothing Today

The traditional clothing described above is not common in the dress of modern Aquinnah Wampanoag peoples. Modernization of the Wampanoag people has brought along the change of traditional clothing to modern clothing. However, some Aquinnah Wampanoag have moccasins and traditional headbands that they wear on special occasions relating to their culture and heritage.

 

 

 

"Aquinnah & Mashpee Wampanoag Communities Engage Visitors." National Park Service. Accessed March 25, 2015.

    http://www.nps.gov/resources/2016.htm?id=D7302BF2-155D-451F-67EF77818492097D

 "Aquinnah Wampanoag." Wampanoag Singers. Accessed March 24, 2015

    http://www.wampanoagsingers.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Jonathan-Perry-Aquinnah-Wampanoag.jpg

"Wampanoag Indian Fact Sheet." American Indian Cultures. Accessed March 24, 2015.

    http://www.bigorrin.org/wampanoag_kids.htm

Land (Past & Present)

History of Wampanoag Land

     The last great North American glacier began its evacuation around 10,000 years ago, leaving behind boulders, sand, and clay that is now known as Martha's Vineyard. The ancestors of Wampanoag people have lived for at least 10,000 years at Aquinnah and throughout the island of Noepe (Martha's Vineyard), maintaining a traditional economy found on fishing and agriculture.

     About 400 years ago, Europeans reached Noepe to take over part of the land and by the 1700's, there were English settlements over most of the island. The Wampanoag people felt suppressed and constricted. By the 1800's there were three native communities that thrived on Martha's Vineyard, including Aquinnah, which was the most populated and organized. Despite powerful efforts by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to end their existence, Aquinnah was able to hold onto control over their land.

     In 1972, the "Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc." was formed to "promote self-determination, to ensure preservation and continuation of Wampanoag history and culture, to achieve federal recognition for the tribe, and to seek the return of tribal lands to the Wampanoag people." The Aquinnah tribe became a federally recognized tribe on April 10, 1987 through the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Wampanoag Land Today

     The Wampanoag lands are located in the southwest portion of Martha's Vineyard Island located in the town of Gay Head. In coherence with the 1987 Settlement Act with the federal government, there are about 485 acres of Tribal Lands purchased. Some important establishments and landmarks to the Aquinnah people include the Aquinnah Cliffs, Herring Creek,  and Lobsterville. 

Aquinnah Cliffs

Made up of one hundred and fifty feet of sediment from six glaciers - including red and white clays, green sands, white quartz, black organic soil, and lignite. They express the story of the past hundred million years and are sacred to the Wampanoag people. Before there was even a paved road, the Aquinnah cliffs were a tourist destination. The Aquinnah light is the oldest lighthouse on Noepe and is located on the cliffs.

Clay from the cliffs used to be taken for bricks, pottery, and paint. As colors of the cliffs have eroded way, now they are protected as a National Historic Landmark and climbing and the removal of the clay are both restricted by law. 

ND"Wampanoag Tribe - History & Culture." Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah). Accessed March 24, 2015. http://www.wampanoagtribe.net/Pages/Wampanoag_WebDocs/history_culture.

Language: The Past, Present, and Window to the Future

The Origins of Algonquin

The Wampanoag tribe originated in the New England region, specifically today's Massachusetts. Their language is called Algonquin, and their name, Wampanoag, actually means "eastern people" or "people of the dawn" ("The Wampanoag"). "The Wampanoag language is most closely related to those spoken by the Mohican and Pequot" ("Wampanoag Language"). That could imply that they Wampanoag tribe could at least be able to communicate with these two other tribes if they wanted to or needed to. Those two tribes were also located in the northeast, somewhat near the Wampanoag, so it would make sense that the Wampanoag had a similar language to them. Even in today's English language, we have taken some of the words from the Wampanoag. Words like moose, chipmunk, moccasin, squash, raccoon, and skunk were derived from Algonquin ("Wampanoag Language"). It's pretty amazing that the Algonquin words are still used in the English language today.

Language and Settlement

Because the colonists first arrived on the east coast when coming to America, they encountered the Wampanoag as one of the first people that were on this "new land." Those who came to settle in America wanted to learn the native language of the Wampanoag to be able to teach these new people Christianity ("Wampanoag Language"). In order to teach people religion, a person would have to have a thorough understanding of a language. It was important for the settlers to learn all parts of speech of the Algonquin language; additionally, they would make categories to help separate and understand words. Roger Williams was one of the first men to try and establish a concrete understanding of Algonquin, and eventually, John Elliot, was able to translate the Bible into their native language ("Wampanoag Language"). That would aid any Wampanoag that wanted to learn Christianity by giving them the Bible to worship on their own. The English language has been impacted by Algonquin, as well as the Algonquin being exposed to some English.

April 2005 "The Wampanoag." Native American People/Tribes. Dino-Dragon World. Electronic        Document, http://www.snowwowl.com/peoplewampanoag.html, accessed March 23, 2015.

1994 "Wampanoag Language." MayflowerHistory.com. Mayflower History. Electronic  Document, http://mayflowerhistory.com/wampanoag-language/, accessed March 24, 2015