We’re Still Here

The Pilgrims weren’t the first Europeans the Wampanoag encountered. They had been trading with European explorers since at least 1524. 

In the early 1600s, about 100,000 Wampanoag lived in nearly 70 communities. But by the time the Mayflower arrived, the Wampanoag had been devastated by a mysterious disease brought by European traders and fishermen. 

One Wampanoag community, called Patuxet, was almost totally wiped out. It was in that former settlement that the Pilgrims decided to build their new colony. 

The Wampanoag made their first contact with the Pilgrims in March 1621. Each group was struggling. With their population low, the Wampanoag were threatened by a neighboring Native American nation. The Pilgrims, who had barely survived their first winter, also needed an ally. The two groups signed a treaty, agreeing to support and protect each other.

A member of the Wampanoag named Tisquantum oversaw the colonists’ first spring planting. In the fall, the Wampanoag joined the Pilgrims for the famous feast that we remember in November each year.

The story of the Wampanoag doesn’t end with the first Thanksgiving, however. 

“For us as Wampanoag people, a lot of the history isn’t pretty,” explains Storam’s dad, Darius Coombs. He’s a historian at the Wampanoag Homesite, a museum near the original site of the community of Patuxet.

As more European settlers arrived, they took over much of the land where the Wampanoag had lived for thousands of years. They tried to change the Wampanoag way of life and forced them to convert to their religion. Over time, the peace broke down. 

In 1675, a huge war erupted between the colonists and the Wampanoag, who were led by a chief named Metacom, also known as Philip. What became known as King Philip’s War ended in victory for the English. 

Thousands of Wampanoag had been killed, and many survivors were enslaved. The war set the stage for centuries of mistreatment of Native Americans, which continued long after the United States became a country.

Still, the Wampanoag have endured. Today, Storam and her family are among the roughly 10,000 Wampanoag who live in the northeastern U.S. 

Storam is doing her part to keep the culture and traditions of her ancestors alive. She’s one of many Wampanoag kids who are learning their native language, which was at risk of dying out. 

Storam also volunteers at the Wampanoag Homesite, where she educates visitors about the Wampanoag way of life.

“I think it’s important for people to learn about the Wampanoag history,” she says, “because I want people to remember who we are.”

1. What challenges did the Wampanoag face before the Pilgrims arrived?

2. What happened to the Wampanoag as more European settlers arrived?

3. How did Tisquantum help the Pilgrims? Refer to the sidebar for support.