Ancestral Nipmuc lands stretched from from what we colonizers call northeastern Connecticut and northwest Rhode Island, through central Massachusetts, as far north as the southern New Hampshire and Vermont borders, in places. Despite the popular nomadic stereotypes of Indigenous peoples, the extent of this territory would now be considered a day trip.
Nipmucs very purposefully and sustainably cultivated the lands to produce what the lands were capable of. They would move to a different area if they couldn’t get what they wanted from a certain place at a certain time of year.
Nipmuc gender roles were contrary to the colonizers’ views, too. Women not only shared in labor, but also held highly respected positions within society.
Instead of praying to some guy in the sky who controlled everything, Nipmucs have traditionally held a deep spiritual connection with the earth, each other, and life itself.
While the colonizers sought to destroy all of this, some Nipmucs were able to maintain cultural practices in their homes, which allowed such practices to survive and be taught today.
They have maintained stewardship of the Hassanamisco Reservation and have both purchased and received some land back. However, there’s still a long way to go before the balance is restored. (If you’re a fellow colonizer, may I recommend the donation links below…)
Links to Learn More About Nipmuc People & Land
- Website of the Tribal Government of the Nipmuc Nation.
- Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band website.
- Chaubunagungamaug Band of Nipmuck Indians (CBNI) website.
- Nipmuc Indian Association of Connecticut.
- Hassanamisco Indian Museum website.
- Project Mishoon: an underwater archaeology project.
- Ohketeau Cultural Center.
- No Loose Braids: a Nipmuc-led organization bringing together Eastern Woodland tribes.
- About the Nipmuc Land Project.
- Reclaiming Heritage: digitized historical documents.
- Nipmuc Indian Development Corporation.
- I had to write a paper about an ethnic group that wasn’t my own for a class I took, and I used the opportunity to learn more about the people whose land I occupied for most of my life: The Reality of Nipmuc Perseverance. There’s three pages of sources at the end, which includes some of the above.
Links to Donate to Nipmuc People & Organizations
- Donate to CBNI.
- Donate to Project Mishoon via check or Goodsearch/Goodshop.
- Donate to Ohketeau.
- Donate to No Loose Braids.
- Donate to Nipmuc Land Project (button above the photos).