Local History: Native Americans

"Descendants of the Algonquin Language Bands, The Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe is a member of the original Pokanoket Federation led by Grand Sachem Massasoit otherwise known as Ousamequin (Yellow Feather). The Pocasset Tribe encompassed present-day Tiverton, RI, and parts of Southeastern Massachusetts including Fall River, Freetown, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Westport, Swansea and Middleboro. The Pocasset Tribe was a first contact tribe headed by Chief Corbitant, father of Female Sachem Weetamoe, King Phillips’ Sister in Law. The Pocasset was one of the largest and most powerful tribes in the Pokanoket Federation.

Pocasset Chief Corbitant was one of the original signers of the 1621 Treaty at Plymouth with the Pilgrims.

Pocassets have maintained their identity throughout history and still, today possess the first reservation in this country, ‘The Watuppa Pond Reservation’ in Fall River and Freetown Massachusetts" (The Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe of the Pokanoket Nation).

"A tribally-led non-profit dedicated to reconnecting communities of American Indian tribes, clans, Urban Indians, and indigenous people across the Northeast" (Pocasset Pokanoket Land Trust).