Indians..
 

My son has been asking me all sorts of questions about Indians and the fact they they used to live in Rhode Island before us.. I have always been somewhat curious about them as well, so on our Dad and Son time, we have been going Indian scouting..

first trip was the great swamp fight momument-
then today we went and climbed pettasquamscutt rock.. whew.
Next trip is queens fort..

Anyone else in RI know of any Indian places worth 'scouting'...

Not too familar of the RI area but lots in my town and Middleboro. Assawopsett was the place where King Phillips war started pretty much. Middleboro used to have a great museum of Indian artifacts from the Pond area. Not sure where that is housed anymore. A couple Wompanoag burial grounds too in my area. Pretty much kind of the middle of the trek from Plymouth to Mt. Hope. Plymouth is worth a father son trip too. Probably soon we will have an Indian casino too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assawompset_Pond

Nebe,

I'm a Cherokee (yes really). You could tell him that you're going to visit a real Indian house, head up to Tiverton, and in the process give me back all the plugs of mine you've ho'ed :claps:

There's a certian very old white BM darter that you had better still have.

-spence

I still have it tonto..I still plan on making some of those. :rolleyes:

nebe, go see gene c. he's up to date on the local scene as far as the indians go. plus je has some neat stuff himself. and he's a real one.

How ignorant of me to say that they 'used to' live here.. They still do.

If I go see Gene, all I will want to talk about is fishing in the good ol days... :bl:

Nebe buy and read the book Mayflower it recounts almost all of the battles in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and not just the fighting but many of the good things about the whiteman/red man relationship in this area. I have a friend who is in his late 70's who belongs to a group that is very involved in all of this. He is always being invited to view this or that in some wooded area that relates to indians. There is a chitload of stuff out there that isn't any normal place where this info is usually locate. I think his group is actually a legitimate organization. I'll track him down on my day off Friday and Saturday. Like the professor said Middleborough was a hotspot ofr the indians especially the area from the prison in Bridgewater to the Herring Run on route 44. It ironic now that they want to build a casino there.

Mayflower
 

For info on King Philip's War, pick up a copy of "Mayflower" by Nathaniel Philbrick. Most excellant reading. Philbrick starts with the Pilgrims arrival, the Native politcal scene, the relationships between the Natives and the Pilgrims ( including Squanto's part) and how it all went to hell in a handbasket. It isn't the history we were taught in grade school, much better. Nebe, read it aloud to your son, good bedtime stories. ( Preread for any surprises, but I don'r recall any.) Then visit the sites mentioned.

Nebe, have you been to the museum of primitive art and culture in Peace Dale?
http://www.primitiveartmuseum.org/Collections.htm

A good hike is the Long Pond/Ell Pond area, there is a cliff overhang that legend says was an Indian campground, not sure if it was BS or not but its a cool place

Pickup the book on King Phillips War mentions alot of the local areas to visit.
A little further googling should garner you tons o stuff

Thanks Guys-

Bill, I had no idea that museum was there.. I drive by that building twice a day.. :huh:

I'll check out Mayflower.. thanks for the tip..

I'll second this book "King Phillips War" and add Indian New England Before the Mayflower. A lot of good info.

wow..
http://books.google.com/books?id=TL3...sec=frontcover

Why not just stop by the Narragansett reservation on Rte 2? I'm sure they could give you a lead on the what and where of finding memorials etc.

Yea, and be sure to shake down the smoke shop before you leave :rtfm:

-spence

Smoke shop is still there, I think they're going to make a memorial out of it! :)

Actually, I live a stones throw away from a place the narragansett indians called 'the great spring'... its an amazing cold water spring that blasts water out of a hillside like no body's business 365 days a year- No traces of indian life around it though...

Plymouth plantation has indian descedants who will answer your questions and teach you their history.

Indians?
Whats with you guys? Some Italian guy screws up 500 years ago and the name sticks. Its Native Americans.....

I've never been there but I've heard the museum at Foxwoods is amazing for Native American history/culture.

I might still have the book E. Don't buy it, you can borrow it.

Your son might enjoy something like this.....I know they come up to the Topsfield Fairgrounds a couple of times a year so they do hold these events in New England.

http://www.powwows.com/

They are having one in New York this weekend if you want to take a trip.

They also have a big Powwow at the Naragansett reservation, IIRC its in August sometime.

The Wampanoags at Plymouth Plantation refer to themselves and prefer to be called Indians. I watched them goofing on some nerd who was contorting himself in an effort to be politically correct. They told him they were no more Native American than he was. Born in America = Native American.