By then, the English had crushed an Algonquian uprising in southern New England, which became known as King Philip's War (1675-1676). Presented with the earlier text of the aborted treaty of 1693, they were shocked to hear how English translators had misrepresented their words and how their original offer of mutual friendship had turned into a pledge of submission to the English Crown. Denying that the French King had the right to give away their land, the Wabanaki spokesman explained: "But you say that the Frenchman has given you Plaisance [Newfoundland] and Portrail [Nova Scotia] which are in my neighborhood, with all the lands adjacent: he shall give you all that he will; for me I have my land which the Great Spirit has given me for living, as long as there shag be a child of my people, he will fight for its preservation" (in Rasle 1723, in CMEHS H, 4: 293). It is true that they referred to the French Governor in Canada (and by extension the French King) as "Father," but this did not entitle him to their territories. And in testimony that I say things as they are, I have signed the present minute which I wish to be authentic and to remain for ever" (cited in Calloway: 116-118). Although fighting had stopped in southern New England during the summer of 1676, English settlers and local Abenakis skirmished on the Maine coast, and a few other incidents occurred further down east. With the English enemy nearby and in control over their seacoast, they could hardly afford to turn their backs on the powerful Massachusetts Governor. If you are just looking for a small piece of our world, don’t hesitate ordering one of our handmade Natural Balsam Christmas Wreaths. The Penobscot delegation then traveled far up the St. Lawrence River and arrived in the Abenaki mission village of St. Francis for a great council fire. In the summer of 1725, the English agreed to a cease-fire and made a peace proposal, inviting Wabanaki tribal leaders to meet with them on the Maine coast. Adopting a Native term, the latter often grouped them together as Abenaki or Wabanaki (Speck 1915:494). REACH initiated the Maine Wabanaki State Child Welfare Truth and Reconciliation Commission and supported the Commission as it worked in Wabanaki and Maine communities. A local incident between English settlers and their Indian neighbors triggered a violent chain reaction in the northern and eastern borderlands. Unwilling to turn a blind eye to these inroads, but eager to avoid bloodshed, the Wabanaki Confederacy again tried diplomacy. Founding the Wabanaki Confederacy 4. What was the Wabanaki Confederacy? endobj In contrast, the French (and English) typically attributed real authoritarian power to the idea of a father. Indeed, they even tried to persuade their Wabanaki hosts to accept the Mohawk as their "Father. " Later they made peace, and as a record painted with alder (red or brown) an eel and a turtle on one side of a bearskin. Given the fact that almost all these warring European nations had mercantile and colonial interests overseas, military confrontation could take place almost anywhere the French were active. Some were made chiefs. Although it was obvious that the Wabanaki had been misled (whether by mistake or on purpose), the Penobscots were in a terrible bind. It also offers a fine day for networking among colleagues and for making new associations. Because the French had refused to "take the hatchet out of the [Ottawa's] hands till we come and submit to the Governor of Canada and make peace with him," the Iroquois Confederacy felt compelled to send a delegation of chiefs to see the French Governor in Montreal ' It had become evident to them that whatever support they may have had from their English allies, it had not been enough to stave off disaster. 6. Starr Kelly, Curator of Education, Abbe Museum. All but the Abenaki are federally recognized by the U.S. government. In Europe, already at war with a coalition between the Netherlands, the Holy Roman (German) Empire, Sweden, and Spain, the French were surrounded by enemies during what became known as War of the Great Alliance. The Western Abenaki are located in New Hampshire, Vermont, and into Massachusetts. To which I answered - Yes, I. recognize him King over all his lands; but I rejoined, do not hence infer that I acknowledge thy King as my Ying, and King of my lands. !ok7Ww!�B��%����G&�hcj̞W�3�s��3 �of������� And because the French had always viewed their sovereign claims over Wabanaki territories pre-eminent to that of the tribal nations themselves, and since Acadia had long been recognized as a French possession, the English believed that this treaty gave them clear title to the area ceded to them (Dickason 1986: 33-34; Murdoch 1: 352). As formally worded in the treaty to be confirmed by the Wabanaki, the Indians "have concluded to make... our submission unto his most Excellent Majesty George .... in as full and ample manner, as any of our predecessors have heretofore done. " --- NOTICE ---updated Thursday, October 1, 2020. %PDF-1.4 The First Military Test of the Wabanaki Confederacy. over Maine until 1820). He is a life member of the Maine Historical Society. Using English interpreters (more or less) familiar with the Abenaki language, Governor Dummer dictated once again what his conditions for peace were. Like the Abenaki on the Maine coast, it appears that Mohawks residing near the English in New York could not afford to openly alienate their powerful neighbors. Then they all set about deciding to join with one another in a confederacy" (Leavitt & Francis 1990: 38-39). 8 0 obj Meanwhile, the French and English had become deeply involved in a power struggle across the Atlantic ocean. Like the French ' they had become overextended in their quest for a fur-trade empire. This uprising, which primarily involved the Wampanoag, Nipmuck, and Narragansett, had greatly alarmed their northern neighbors, in particular the Abenaki inhabiting the valleys of the Saco, Androscoggin, and Kennebec. Interestingly, they did not refer to New York’s Governor as their "Father.," but addressed him as "Brother.". They were also told that the Penobscots would be held responsible for their allies "inhabiting within the French territories," obliging them to join the English forces "in reducing them to reason" in case of future hostilities. The Maine legislature voted on various pieces of legislation which were steps towards the Maine tribes’ quest to be treated equally to every other tribe in the country. The Abenaki are one of the five members of the Wabanaki Confederacy.Historically, there was not a strong central authority, but a … The Wabanaki workshop is being offered as part of The Thoreau Wabanaki Trail Festival. mooseheadhistory@myfairpoint.net. Residing at Penobscot, he headed Mawooshen, an alliance of more than twenty villages located between Cape Neddick and Schoodic Point (Prins 1994:1 1 0-1 1). Government officials showed them several old records stating which large tracts had been sold or given away by various Wabanaki individuals in the past (Baxter 23:195, 198). Once again, they tried diplomacy to expand their influence. We see many wrongs. However, he was especially keen on getting Mohawks and contacted them by way of New York's Governor. Still, the Penobscot chiefs and leading men formally signed the controversial treaty. Hence its meaning as People of the Dawnland (see also Hodge 1969:2; Snow 1978:137).