Abenaki. A major ethnic group of Native Nations located in the northeast. It was divided into the Eastern branch, the Maritime branch and the Sokoki (Western). Maritime Abenaki included the Maliseet and the Passamaquodoy. Eastern Abenaki included the Kennebec, Penobscot, Amaseconti, Androscoggin, Ossipee, Pigwacket, Rocameca, Wewenoc and Wolinak. Many tribes settled in Canada, near Sillery, St Franceois and Trois River as part of the Seven Nations Council. Until 1763 they were bitter enemies of the British and often raided settlements long after a war had ended.

Algonkin or Algonquin. A major language group of the Eastern Seaboard. Also a separate nation located mainly along the Quebec and Ontario border area of the Ottawa River. It consisted of seven tribes with about thirty villages. Each tribe also maintained two fortified town for winter residence and war time. Many moved into towns controlled by the Seven nations of Canada after being decimated by the Iroquois. Many of these Algonkin Catholics were called the Oka.

Caughnawaga. Aka Catholic Mohawks. The dominant tribe of the Council of Seven Nations of Canada. They were composed mainly of migrant Mohawks plus some minor tribes which had been adopted earlier by the Iroquois.

Cayuga. A member of the dominate Iroquois confederation. Conoy (Aka Kanawha). Merged with the Lenape and Mahican by 1770.

Erie. Located mainly on the southern shore of Lake Erie near Buffalo with some villages being found near Sandusky, Ohio. Always poorly armed in regards to metal weapons. In the 1650s several tribes migrated south to Virginia and the Carolinas. They may have been the mysterious Ricahecrian tribe in Virginia and the Westo tribe in South Carolina. By the 1720s many Erie merged with migrating Iroquois to become known as the Mingo. See the Southeastern Seaboard and Ohio Valley sections for additional entries.

Huron Confederacy. Iroquoian language. Mainly located in central Ontario, known as Huronia or Ouendake. They later moved to Lorette. Tribes included Arendahronon, Tahonaenrat, Attignawantan and Attigneenongnahac. Forced to flee Huronia by the Iroquois. Some settled at Lorette, while others moved to the Ohio Valley and became part of the Wyandots.

Iroquois Confederation. A political organization which would dominate the other native nations located east of the Mississippi River. Its members included the Seneca (largest), Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Mohawk and later the Tuscarora. Not every member would be used against the same opponent. For example, often the Mohawk would be warring with eastern tribes while the Seneca would be conducting a different war to the west. However aid would be sent by other members of the confederation to help defend threatened towns. Their close trading ties with the Dutch and later the British provided the confederation with a wealth of guns and metal material to use in warfare. The advantage of metal weapons and later guns would result in the Iroquois power growing rapidly. In addition the Iroquois saw no limit to their power. They often sent raiding parties as far south as Georgia and as far west as Wisconsin.

Kennebec. Eastern Abenaki.

Lenape (Aka Delaware or Wabanaki). They were Algonquin. Located in the area between the Delaware River and the lower Hudson River Villages could be found in east Penn., New Jersy, Long Island, Manhattan Island Staten Island and northern Delaware. Dominate divisions included the Munsee (Minisink, Esopus), Unami (Raritan, Tappan, Haverstraw, Hackensack, Carnarsee) and Unalactigo (Chikohoki). By 1660 Unalactigo had merged with the Unami. After 1638 the Munsee were subjects of the Susquehannock. By 1750 several of these groups would eventually migrate to the Ohio Valley. Most Munsee remain in the Wyoming Valley. See Ohio Valley Section for additional entries.

Mahican. Aka Mohican. Located mainly in the Hudson Valley area of New York. Their position placed them between the Mohawks and the Dutch and the area's primary source of wampum. They spoke the Algonquin language. A Confederation of five tribes comprising 40+ towns. Each town was often located on a hill, averaged 30-40 longhouses and was fortified. Other tribes included the Wiekagtoc, Mechkentowoon, Wawyachtonoc, and the Westenhuck. Around 1680 several tribes migrated to northern Indiana and merged with the Miami nation. Those who remained in New York, some became the Stockbridge tribe, became a subject nation to the Iroquois. They provided scouts and protected British settlements during the Grey Locke's War and King George's War. Massachusetts. A tribe located in Massachusetts. Fought the early pro-Dutch Mohawks and was crippled by 1669. During the King Phillip's War, some joined the Warrpanoag while others joined the English as scouts.

Mattabesic. Located in southern new York. Defeated by the Mohegans in the 1650s. Some merged with the Abenaki. The Podunk tribe joined King Phillipin his war.

Metoac. A coastal nation located in the New York area. They were best known for producing excellent wampum. As a result, they suffered numerous raids by tribes seeking wampum.

Micmac. Located in eastern Canada, especially in Nova Scotia. Strong friends of the French with whom they inter-married and became enraged when the French Acadians were expelled from Nova Scotia by the British . Bitter enemies of the British, especially in Nova Scotia. British governors offered bounties specifically for the scalps of Micmac warriors.

Mohawks. Part of the Iroquois confederation. Located in upper New York. Assigned with the responsibility of controlling the eastern border of the confederation.

Mohegan. The pro-British faction of the Pequot nation which split off to form its own tribe. Due to its close alliance with the British, to became a dominate tribe on the Atlantic coast. Some scholars indicate that the Mohegan originated among the Mahigan. I favor the Pequot

Montagnais. Aka Kebik. An Algonquin nation located in modern Quebec east of the St. Maurice River . Strong allies of the French. Frequently fought the Sokoki and Mohawks.

Narragansett. Located in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. A dominant tribe in the area and rival of the Pequots. Tried to remain neutral to the English but drawn into the King Phillip's War after providing shelter to women and children of the warring tribes. Scattered at the end of the King Phillip's War.

Neutrals. Located in an area between Huron and Iroquois homelands. They spoke a Huron dialect of Irquoian. After their defeat in 1651 many were adopted by the Seneca. In fact the Seneca town of Gandongarae was composed entirely of Neutrals.

Niantic. Pro-Pequot ally located in western Conn and eastern Rhode Island. Destroyed during the Pequot War.

Nipmuc. Located in Massachusetts. Joined in the King Phillip's War and left for Quebec after their defeat. Many joined the refugee tribes located at St. Francois while others merged with the Mahican and Delaware.

Oneida. A member of the Iroquois confederation. Considered to be the primary cause of the Confederation's breakup when they supported the Patriots during the American Revolution.

Onondaga. A member of the Iroquois confederation. Pequot. (Aka Pequod) Located in southern New York and Connecticut. Population in 1600 was estimated at 2200. Dominated local tribes and resented English trade with their subject tribes. Tribe split into pro-Dutch and pro-British factions. The pro-British faction became known as the Mohegans. The Pequot were destroyed by a British-Mohegan alliance in 1637. 1000+ survivors merged with the Mohegans.

Penobscot. East Abenaki.

Pennacook. Maritime Abenaki. Located in New Hampshire and southern Maine. Bitter enemies of the Mohawks and British. Nashua and Wachuset tribes were early supports of King Phillip in 1675. After leaving their original lands in the 1680s, they joined the Seven Nations of Canada confederation and continued to fight the British.

Pocumtuc. Located in Massachusetts. Often allied with other smaller tribes against the Mohawks. Fought the English in the King Phillip's War. After the defeat, they fled and joined the Seven Nations of Canada at St. Francois.

Seven Nations of Canada. A Confederation of pro British tribes located in Canada. Several of the seven major towns consisted of a mixture of the remanents from several nations. The Confederation was dominated by the Caughnawaga. The main towns were located in Quebec including St Franceois, St Johns, Lake of Two Mountains (300 Caughnawaga + 250 Nipissing + 100 Algonkin), Lorette (Huron), St Regis, Becancour (Abenaki)

Sokoki. Aka Western Abenaki. Located in Vermont and western New Hampshire. Tribes included the Missisque, Cowasuck, Hoosac, Schaghticoke. Fought the Mohawks and Alogonkin tribes in their area. In 1668, most of the Sokoki migrated to northern Illinois and merge with the Miami and Potawatomi. Sokoki allied with Catholic Mohawks

Squawkeg. A town of a mix population including Sokoki + Nipmuc + Pocumtuc

Susquehannock. They spoke a Huron form of Iroquois. A confederacy of five tribes in about twenty towns. Often allied with enemies of the Iroquois Confederation. Considered to use well organized tactics as was characteristic of most Iroquois nations. Located mainly in Pennsylvannia but attacked tribes in Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia and the Ohio Valley. Early allies of the Swedes. Eventually destroyed by the Seneca.

Tionontati. Spoke Iroquoian. Located on the southeastern shore of Lake Huron in Ontario. Destroyed by the Iroquois for giving shelter to their enemies.

Tuscarora. A later member of the Iroquois confederation. Adopted by the confederation but never received full voting rights.

Wappinger. Includes the tribes of Kitchawank, Nochpeem, Sintsink, Siwanoy and Tankiteke.

Wenro. A small Iroquoian nation located in western New York and northwestern Penn.

More NE Atlantic Indian Groups

NE Atlantic Seaboard and E Canada Introduction
NE Atlantic Seaboard and E Canada Indian Groups
NE Atlantic Seaboard and E Canada War Chronology Iroquois Confederation
NE Atlantic Seaboard and E Canada War Chronology Other