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The Abenaki or Waban-Aki ~ The Nation of the Rising Sun

Art from the Canadian National Archives - Copyright Expired
From "wabum" (the light) and a'ki (the earth), the Abenaki lived in Quebec from 1676 to 1680 and in New England. They used the word "Alnanbal" to refer to one another, which means man. The Europeans gave them different names, based on where the Amerindian nation lived. The French used the word wolf or natio luporem (nation of wolves) to name the Abenaki from the East whereas the word Sokoki was used for Abenaki from the West. For the English, tarrateen was the first word to designate the Abenaki. However the same name was for the Micmacs which caused great confusion since the two tribes were great rivals.

The Abenaki from the west were nicknamed St-Frances's Indians. Other names were given to them such as: Anagonges, (Iroquois), Aquannaque (Huron), Bashaba, Gannongagehronnon (Mohawk), Moassones, Maweshennok, Naarankamigdok, Natsagana (Caughnawaga), Obunego, Onagunga, Onnogonges, Opanago, Owenagunges, Owenunga and Skacewanilom (Iroquois).

Hunter-gatherers in their times, The Abenaki preferred farming corn, bean, squash, potatoes and tobacco. They also initiated the Europeans to the delicious maple syrup that they used to make by boiling maple tree sap. The Abenaki live on a vast territory that spreads from Northern New England to the Maritime Provinces. The Abenaki from the east mainly settled in Maine, to the east of White Mountains whereas those from the west lived in Vermont, New Hampshire and on the shores of Lake Champlain. The Abenaki who settled in Canada mainly lived in the Valley of the Sainte Croix and Saint John rivers.

The Europeans learned of the existence of the Abenaki community in an unusual way. European explorers and fishermen who frequented the north of Maine and visited with the Abenaki people, spread a rumour on the old continent that persisted throughout the 16th century. According to the legend, there was an Amerindian kingdom in northern Maine, by the name of Norumbega with unprecedented wealth and power. Many adventurers, intrigued by the legend or lure of gain, unsuccessfully tried to find the famous Norumbega instead they found great hunting territory and prospects of trade with Amerindians very profitable. Many expeditions were organized toward the New World and attempts of settling started with the French in 1604 on the Sainte Croix Island.

Like the Maliseets, the Abenaki particularly the Penobscots had strong ties with the French. They were also brave allies in the wars between the French and the English that frequently disturbed the region. The Abenaki thrived and became powerful by forming a threatening alliance against the Micmacs who lived on the other side of the Passamaquoddy Bay. The War of Tarrateen, in 1607, is the result of the rivalry between the Abenaki and the Micmacs, caused by the presence of the Europeans and the fur trade. The settlement of the English on North American territories as well as war prompted the Abenaki to move north toward Quebec. Nowadays, estimated to approximately 2,000 members, the Abenaki community was severely affected by epidemics from 1616 to 1619, which killed at least 75 percent of the Amerindian population.

The Abenaki villages, so far as their names have been recorded, were:

Aunaseconti

Ammoncongan

Aquadocta (?)

Arosaguntacook

Asnela

Aucocisco

Bagaduce

Bécancour

Calais (Passamaquoddy)

Gunasquamekook (Passamaquoddy)

Immarkuan (Passamaquoddy)

Kennebec

etangheanycke

Lincoln Island

Masherosqueck

Mattawamkeag (Punobscot)

Maytinacook (Penobscot)

Meecombe

Missiassik (Missiassik)

Moratiggon (?)

Moshoquen

Muanbissek (?)

Muscongus

Negas

Negusset (?)

Norridgewock

Norumbega

Okpaak (Malecite)

Olamon (Penobscot)

Old Town (Penobscot)

Ossaghrage

Ouwerage

Pasharanack

Passadumkeag (Penobscot)

Passamaquoddy (village?)

Pauhtannc

Pemaquid

Penobscot

Pequawket

Pocopassum

Precaute

Rocameca Sabino

Sagadahoc

Sainte Anne (Malecite)

St Francis

Satquin

Sebaik (Passamaquoddy)

Segocket

Segotago

Sillery

Sokoki (village?)

Taconnet

Tobique (Malecite)

Unyjaware

Viger (Malecite)

Wabigganus

Waccogo

Wewenoc (village?)

     


© Lucie LeBlanc Consentino
Acadian & French Canadian Ancestral Home
2006- Present

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