Imagine a land of thick forests, winding rivers, and wide-open shores. Before cities and roads

covered New England, this was the home of the Wampanoag people. For thousands of years,

long before the pilgrims arrived, the Wampanoag lived along the coast of what is now, Massachusetts,

and Rhode Island. Their name means people of the first light,

because they lived in the region where the sun first rises each day. The Wampanoag were closely

connected to the land and the sea. They lived in villages built near rivers and the ocean,

where food and water were always close. Their homes were called weedas, rounded huts made

from wooden poles covered with bark and mats made of reeds. Wheatis were warm in winter and

cool in summer, and they could be built or taken apart easily when families moved to follow the seasons.

The Wampanoag people lived by the rhythm of nature.

They fished in the spring, farmed in the summer, harvested in the fall, and hunted in the winter.

Their main crops were the three sisters, corn, beans, and squash. The corn grew tall, the beans

climbed its stalks, and the squash spread across the ground

protecting the soil. This smart way of farming kept the land healthy year after year. They also gathered

berries, nuts, and shellfish, and hunted deer, birds, and small animals. Canoes were an important

part of daily life. The Wampanoag built them from

large tree trunks, hollowed out with fire and tools. They used these canoes to fish, travel, and

trade with nearby tribes. Trade was very important. The Wampanoag exchanged food, furs, and tools with their neighbors, such as the

Narraganset and Massachusetts tribes. Each Wampanoagi village had a leader called a Sachem, chosen for

wisdom and bravery. The Sachem helped make decisions, settled disputes, and cared for the people's

well-being. But the

Satcham didn't rule alone. He or she was guided by the Council of Elders and

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