Thomas Dresser

The Wampanoag Tribe of Martha's Vineyard: Colonization to Recognition Thomas Dresser

The Wampanoag tribe of Gay Head/Aquinnah is a group of indigenous people on Martha's Vineyard. From their legendary giant leader Moshup, Wampanoags can trace their ancestry back more than 10,000 years. The tribe weathered colonization by missionaries in the 1600s and then endured two centuries of domination, only to have its land taken in 1870. However, over the past 140 years, the Wampanoag tribe, which still lives in its ancestral home of Aquinnah, has shown endurance and fortitude as it continues to practice traditional crafts and its tribal heritage. In this book, Thomas Dresser captures the spirit of the tribe, tracing its survival through to recognition by the federal government in 1987, nearly 25 years ago. Brief interviews with elders and current tribal members offer insight into the tribe's remarkable history.