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 live on Lake Winnipesaukee (Winnipesaukee HomePage), 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.

           Abenaki Page in NH Native American Resources
           Abenaki Resources Site
          Native Nations
           Native Histories
           Canada's First Nations
           Aboriginal Star Knowledge
           Native American Resources
           Native American Creation Cycles

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