Pokanoket - Ancient Territory and Boundaries

Ancient Territory and Boundaries

Native American Heritage is a birthright given to us by our Creator and passed down from generation to generation. An element of our heritage has always been the very land on which we stand. Many Tribes do not possess by title, the land of which they are still stewards. That does not mean that the principle of the sanctity of the land has somehow escaped us. It can never be removed from us while we exist. We are one with the land of our fathers.

It is generally known and accepted that the Native People defined their boundaries and territory by the natural physical features of the land. These physical features could be mountains, hills, plains, lakes, rivers and the like. After viewing many maps, the 1895 atlas map of Massachusetts and Rhode Island was chosen for the base map because it shows the political boundaries along with many of the physical, topographical features consistent with those that existed in the 17th century. Pokanoket ancestral boundaries and territory are shown here.