The Wampanoag

1. The Wampanoag People of the Dawn

2. Basic Facts • The Wampanoag lived in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island. • First contact with them was around of the beginning of the 17th Century. • Right before 1620 there was a disease outbreak that nearly destroyed them. • The Wampanoag lived in Wetus.

3. Lifestyle • The Wampanoag were Semi-sedentary. • They mainly ate the three sisters and fish or game. • There was some polygamy, but most were monogamists. • They spoke the Massachusett-Wampanoag language.

4. Women • Women could control property. • New couples lived with the woman’s family. • Women “elders” could be a chief or sachem. • Young girls gathered food and worked in the fields.

5. Men • Men had most of the political, tribe interaction, and warfare roles. • Men did most of the hunting.

6. King Philip’s War • King Philip’s War was a war between the Wampanoag and the colonists. • It was from 1675 to 1676. • Most of the male survivors became slaves and were sent to the West Indies. • Women and children became slaves in New England. • King Philip ( Chief Metacomet) was the one who declared war.

7. Wampanoag Clothing • Women wore deerskin skirts. • Leggings were worn in cool weather by both men and women. • Moccasins were worn mainly during cold weather. • Wampanoag men and women would also decorate their bodies.

8. The Wampanoag Today • Currently the Wampanoag speak English. • In 1993 a language revival project was started. • Today their population is about 3,000.

9. Fun Facts • It is thought that at one point their population was 12,000. • There are multiple Wampanoag tribes, like the Pocasset and the Assonet. • Wampanoag means “Easterners” or “People of the Dawn”.

10. Works Cited • “Wampanoag people.” Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia 1 Dec. 2013 <http://en.wikipedia.org> 1 Dec. 2013. Web. • “Wampanoag Indians.” Indians.org 2013. <http://www.indians.org> 1 Dec. 2013. Web. • “What to Where?.” Plimoth Plantation 2013. <http://www.plimoth.org> 2 Dec. 2013. Web.