Nipmuc

This is our second annual powwow.

We plan to be in the Berkshires somewhere every year at this time, you know, and making new connections, new friends, you know, reconnecting with our other native peoples out here, the Nipmuc and the Oneidas and the Mohawks and the Narragansetts, all the people from these lands out here.

And not only that, but making good connections with the people in the communities of these lands as well.

For myself and my family, we have a huge gratitude for everyone being so kind and so nice.

So this is about the Connecticut River in Connecticut.

our valley and the river names itself Katinkwa is from it's a corruption Connecticut is a corruption of the Mohican and the Nipmuc language and Katinkwa which I'm not 100% sure I'm pronouncing correctly which is unfortunate because we don't learn these words it's from the Nipmuc and it does mean long tidal alongside the long tidal river I am the long tidal river so kind of imagining the river naming itself I'll read it again.

Robin and Wren ladle sound over the river and spider web breeds in the bridge's iron struts.

I cross the spine of the valley maker.

I'm your host, Dr. Sam Hume.

Last time, we saw the trial of the Praying Indians, Nipmuc Christians, who had believed they were under English protection.

After all, they'd willingly put themselves under colonial sovereignty, embraced English dress and culture, and, surely most importantly, were practicing Christians.

But with King Philip's War not going especially well, suspicion and fear was running rampant among colonial leaders.

Unable, and perhaps unwilling, to understand the complex ties between indigenous groups, Massachusetts Bay Colony was all too prepared to believe their Nipmuc subjects were in league with their Nipmuc enemies.

As we saw, salvation for most of those on trial didn't come from the Christian faith, but from the Mohegan leader, Uncas, who did understand those ties.

Because of those ties, family relations, and personal connections, Uncas intervened with the colonial trial, saving those Nipmuc from slavery or death, even as he waged war with other Nipmuc.

We left off with Weetamoo, sister-in-law to King Philip, arriving at the court of Canonicus, sachem of the Narragansett, the largest indigenous group in New England which had not yet thrown itself into the war.

What's this? This beaded wampum belt.

Ancient relic of Nipmuc tribe.

Nipmuc.

Here in Tipi Semak, too many light-fingered chambermaids and bellboys.

You want me to hold on to this for you?

You are Indian, aren't you?

Of course.

I am a Nipmuc.