Nipmuck Welcoming Cereomy
The Welcoming Ceremony will be performed by the Tribal Elders. This ceremony will signify a new hope and future; not only for Nipmucks but the people of Ware. The English descendants along with the Nipmuck descendants will join in Ceremony and Prayer to honor all of our Ancestors from that tragic time and move forward with new, understanding, friendship and unity.
Performing will be the Quabbin Lake Singers and Dancers who are all members of the Nipmuck tribe of Massachusetts. Also featured are traditional drumming, dancing exhibitions and story telling. We will welcome in the audienince to participate in part of our program.
Nipmuck is the Algonquin word for “people of the fresh water.” For over 30,000 years Ware has been, and continues to be, part of the original homeland of Nipmuck people. At one time there were over 40 separate clans of Nipmuck people with a population between 200,000 - 400,000 Nipmuck living in an area from the Connecticut River to Natick; northeastern Connecticut, northern Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire. Then, in 1675, Ware and the surrounding towns played a crucial role in King Philip's War. During this period, Nipmucs from all over would gather in the area around Ware to form 3 strategic forts to defend against English hostilities. From the events of the war, usurping of lands, European diseases and forced assimilation and removal, the population of Nipmucks today is about 4,000 in total.
Despite all that has happened, Nipmucks continue on in the tradition of their ancestors and move forward in the spirit of unity, peace and new hope for the future generations.
~ Larry Spotted Crow Mann
Performing will be the Quabbin Lake Singers and Dancers who are all members of the Nipmuck tribe of Massachusetts. Also featured are traditional drumming, dancing exhibitions and story telling. We will welcome in the audienince to participate in part of our program.
Nipmuck is the Algonquin word for “people of the fresh water.” For over 30,000 years Ware has been, and continues to be, part of the original homeland of Nipmuck people. At one time there were over 40 separate clans of Nipmuck people with a population between 200,000 - 400,000 Nipmuck living in an area from the Connecticut River to Natick; northeastern Connecticut, northern Rhode Island and southern New Hampshire. Then, in 1675, Ware and the surrounding towns played a crucial role in King Philip's War. During this period, Nipmucs from all over would gather in the area around Ware to form 3 strategic forts to defend against English hostilities. From the events of the war, usurping of lands, European diseases and forced assimilation and removal, the population of Nipmucks today is about 4,000 in total.
Despite all that has happened, Nipmucks continue on in the tradition of their ancestors and move forward in the spirit of unity, peace and new hope for the future generations.
~ Larry Spotted Crow Mann