Before the Pilgrims landed in Massachusetts, the Wampanoag Indians, the People of the Breaking Day, had been living there for hundreds of years. This is their story.
The Wampanoags lived in close harmony to nature, migrating to the coast for the summer and returning inland for the winter. Each member had his or her place within the tribe. Men hunted, built boats, and went to war. Women grew food, built their shelters, and cared for the children. Children were expected to help with planting and harvesting as well as collect plants for medicinal purposes. In the winter, boys had to survive in the harsh woods alone before they could take on the responsibilities of manhood.
