The Native American in Vermont

Vermont’s story begins with the indigenous peoples who frequented the territory between the Connecticut River and Lake Champlain long before the European came.

For many years it was thought that the area had been only a hunting and fishing ground for the Native. However, in recent decades, archaeological research has uncovered evidence that there were a few permanent settlements, notably at such places as the Coos and Oxbow areas along the Connecticut River in Orange County, midway up the eastern side of the state, and at the mouth of the Missisquoi River in Franklin County (specifically, Swanton), in the northwest corner.

Still other areas give evidence that Native groups returned year after year either to raise a crop such as corn, or to put by a supply of fish, game, berries or maple sugar. Almost every town has yielded relics indicating that at some time Natives camped or hunted there. A good many of the encampments probably were made during raiding trips on colonial outposts during the French and Indian wars of the 18th Century.

Both of the great eastern nations – the Algonquian and the Iroquois – knew the land that became Vermont. In a lifetime of studying the Native place-names of New England, the late John C. Huden was able to identify roughly two hundred names that one or more of the Native tribes had applied to places within Vermont. Nearly one hundred derive from the Abnaki, who spent more time in the area than any of the other Algonquian tribes. Another dozen derive from the Mahican, while a few come from the Narragansett, Natick, Pennacook, Pocumtuc and Wampanoag. The Mohawk tribe of the Iroquois nation gave names to about fifty places, and the Chippewa also seem to have named a few places.

For all of those Vermont place-names derived from Native words, there are only two municipalities whose names are so taken: Jamaica (from the Natick for “beaver”), and Winooski (Abenaki for “wild onion place”).

Anduril Sword of Narsil the King Aragorn Fully Handmade Replica picture

Anduril Sword of Narsil the King Aragorn Fully Handmade Replica

$92.99



The Legend of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Custom Cloth Map picture

The Legend of Zelda Tears Of The Kingdom Custom Cloth Map

$29.99



Star Trek The Next Generation Bluetooth Communicator Badge, TNG ComBadge, Delta picture

Star Trek The Next Generation Bluetooth Communicator Badge, TNG ComBadge, Delta

$61.74



Lord of the Rings Sting HANG FORGED STEEL LOTR Movie sword of Frodo with Sheath picture

Lord of the Rings Sting HANG FORGED STEEL LOTR Movie sword of Frodo with Sheath

$74.99



The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Pins Master Sword design Nintendo picture

The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom Pins Master Sword design Nintendo

$59.97



The Lighthouse Movie Program Japanese Cinema Junji Ito Manga Robert Eggers Japan picture

The Lighthouse Movie Program Japanese Cinema Junji Ito Manga Robert Eggers Japan

$34.23



billlie 'the billage of perception: chapter three' album photocard picture

billlie 'the billage of perception: chapter three' album photocard

$4.89



Avatar: The Way of Water (2023, DVD) NEW *Kate Winslet* PRE-ORDER SHIPS 06/27/23 picture

Avatar: The Way of Water (2023, DVD) NEW *Kate Winslet* PRE-ORDER SHIPS 06/27/23

$15.95



Real Piece of the BERLIN WALL with Certificate of Authenticity, Small picture

Real Piece of the BERLIN WALL with Certificate of Authenticity, Small

$19.95



*PREORDER* FUNKO POP ROCKS: The Cure- 5pk  ....*~*   *~*.... picture

*PREORDER* FUNKO POP ROCKS: The Cure- 5pk ....*~* *~*....

$59.99