Native Americans have been in northern
New
England since before recorded
history, and in these parts, they are known as the Abenaki. The name "Abenaki"
originates from an Algonquin word meaning "people of the dawn" or "easterners."
This term was generally applied to Algonquin-speaking people anywhere along the
Atlantic coast, so differentiating actual tribes is difficult.
The Abenaki called themselves ‘Alnanbal’ (meaning "men”) and their
homeland ‘Ndakinna’ ("our land”). They were agricultural people and
usually settled on the floodplains of rivers. Abenaki Confederation tribes
included the Amaseconti, Androscoggin, Kennebec, Maliseet, Ouarastegouiak,
Passamaquoddy, Patsuiket, Penobscot, Pigwacket, Micmac,
Pennacook, Rocameca, Sokoni, and
Wewenoc.
All these names are familiar to us in northern New England as names of rivers,
lakes, mountains, and other natural landmarks. It is impossible to live here
and not know that we were preceded. I lived on Lake Winnipesaukee,
and in trying to ascertain what ‘Winnipesaukee’ means, I had come across an
old article written in the early part of this century, that mentioned the
meaning of ‘Winnipesaukee’ as “the smile of the Great Spirit”. Sounds wonderful,
but it’s not true. Friends (thanks Ruth & Paul), told me that the descendants
of the original inhabitants of New Hampshire now live in Odanak, Quebec. In
the current Abenaki spelling, Winnipesaukee is ‘Wiwninbesaki’ and translates
as 'lake around islands'. “Wiwni” is 'around', “nbes” is 'lake', and “aki”
is 'land'.
For an in-depth view of these area peoples
(and many other Native Nations), I refer
the reader to Lee Sultzman’s site on Native Nations Histories. The amount of
work and research he has put into this project is phenomenal and is something
that will be valued for years and generations to come.
Where We Critters Live
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New Hampshire || Lake Winnipesaukee
The Abenaki || Alton Bay
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background/buttons by me
Papagei