Native American tribes in Massachusetts

Native American tribes in Massachusetts are the Native American tribes and their reservations that existed historically and those that still exist today in what is now the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. A Narragansett term for this region is Ninnimissinuok.[1]

Historic tribal territories of Southern New England, ca. 16th century

Federally recognized tribes

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Historic Wampanoag territory, c. 1620

Massachusetts has two federally recognized tribes. They have met the seven criteria of an American Indian tribe: being an American Indian entity since at least 1900, a predominant part of the group forms a distinct community and has done so throughout history into the present; holding political influence over its members, having governing documents including membership criteria, members having ancestral descent from historic American Indian tribes, not being members of other existing federally recognized tribes, and not being previously terminated by the U.S. Congress.[2]

State-recognized tribes

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State-recognized tribes do not have government-to-government relationships with the United States federal government that federally recognized tribes do. The state has developed a formal process for state recognition, and Massachusetts has one state-recognized tribe.

The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Band was formally recognized as the "Nipmuc Tribe" through an executive order by Governor Michael Dukakis in 1976.[5]

American Indian reservations

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These are two federal Indian Reservations in Massachusetts.

There are also two historical state reservations connected to the Nipmuc people.

Historical tribes of Massachusetts

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These are some of the tribes that have existed in what is now Massachusetts. Most no longer exist as functioning American Indian tribes within the state; however, some are tribes in other states or in Canada.

  • Mahican tribe, from New York but some migrated to Massachusetts in the late 17th century[8]

Cultural heritage groups

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More than 20 organizations claim to represent historic tribes within Massachusetts; however, these groups are unrecognized, meaning they do not meet the minimum criteria of a federally recognized tribe[3] or a state-recognized tribe.[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Weinstein, L. (1997). "Book Reviews" (PDF). Western Connecticut State University. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  2. ^ Newland, Bryan (12 July 2012). "Federal Tribal Recognition". Office of Congressional and Legislative Affairs. US Department of the Interior. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d Bureau of Indian Affairs, Interior (29 January 2021). "Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Federal Register. 86 FR 7554: 7554–58. Archived from the original on 11 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  4. ^ "State-Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  5. ^ Dukakis, Michael S. (8 July 1976). "No. 126: Massachusetts Native Americans". Massachusetts Executive Orders. Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 31 August 2022. Retrieved 31 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Justice Department's Successful Defense of Lands in Trust Case will Preserve Land in Massachusetts for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe". Office of Public Affairs. U.S. Department of Justice. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  7. ^ Indian Health Service (23 August 2015). "Redesignation of Service Delivery Area: Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Dukes County, MA". Regulations.gov. Retrieved 27 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice (3 November 2019). "Native American Tribes in Massachusetts". History of Massachusetts. Archived from the original on 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
  9. ^ https://www.nipmucband.org/ [bare URL]
  10. ^ "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Archived from the original on 25 October 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2021.