N'dakinna: Our Homeland...Still

Additional Examples of Abenaki Presence in New Hampshire

Introduction

In what is now the eastern United States - particularly in sites of early colonial settlement like New Hampshire - the history of British occupation is etched into the landscape in the form of place names, buildings, historical markers, and the people who live here today.

At times, it can be easy for many to forget that this region is not historically Euro-American - that there exists an Indigenous population in New Hampshire, complete with a unique history, culture, language, and identity. It is not evident to everyone that this Indigenous heritage survives today, not just in the form of place names, but in the Abenaki people who still inhabit their homeland.

Despite its abundance of British place names, New Hampshire - which is just a portion of the traditional Abenaki homeland known as N'dakinna - also contains several place names of Indigenous origin, particularly natural features like bodies of water and mountains. These names add to the local character of places - lending their names further to schools, businesses, and more - and although they are clearly Indigenous, they are so familiar to locals that many people never think to learn what the words translate to.

Learning the possible etymologies of Indigenous place names are a first step for people living in settler colonial states to recognize the historic and continued Native presence in the region they inhabit. It can lead to questions about how pre-contact Native people interacted with the landscape and had different ways of knowing and understanding concepts like resource allocation, natural processes, land ownership, etc., than the now-dominant Western school of thought.

Recognizing the Indigenous presence of a place is only the first step, however. Learning about place names and history can lead to questions about the Native people of a place today. Where do they live? What is the status of their language and traditional religion? What have non-Native people done to try to acknowledge and correct historical injustices? All in all, reflecting on a place's Indigenous heritage can lead to greater awareness and appreciation.

About this Story Map

This Story Map seeks to expand on the work done by the  Indigenous New Hampshire Collaborative Collective  by:

  • Identifying more places in New Hampshire with place names of Indigenous origin (Abenaki unless stated otherwise) and their possible meanings
  • Identifying more sites that mark Abenaki history or commemorate Abenaki people
  • Providing an up-to-date look at the status of Indigenous Peoples' Day in each town in New Hampshire

Using this Story Map

As you scroll through this Story Map, click on a river, mountain, lake, or marker to learn more about its possible name origin. Think about why the Abenaki people may have called these places as such.

A disclaimer on names: multiple sources were consulted to gather possible name origins. These sources are not necessarily authoritative, as evident by the fact that some are quite old and some place names have multiple possible meanings (see references slide).

The reason why there is some ambiguity to these meanings is because of historic attempts by colonists to exterminate the Abenaki language, culture, and people, as well as the fact that the names were corrupted by settlers who did not speak the Abenaki language. But the Abenaki people and their language still exist, and as language revitalization (an example of survivance) and research efforts are furthered, it is possible that more definitive etymologies can be determined.

Rivers

As seen in this 1958 map of "Historic Indian Trails", several of the rivers highlighted on the map on the left are listed as common paths for transportation.

New Hampshire's rivers are essential to its history - and this includes its pre-colonial history. Waterways in the state were some of the most common ways for the Abenaki to traverse through the landscape. A great example is the Ashuelot River, which may mean "between two places" - a reflection of the fact that it was used as a route to get to places. The names of the rivers also reflect the Indigenous knowledge of where certain resources like fish were abundant.

The seven rivers listed here are just a few of the more well-known examples of the countless streams, brooks, and rivers in the state that have Abenaki name origins.

Lakes

Lake Winnisquam (Wikimedia Commons)

New Hampshire's numerous lakes are some of the best-known examples of Abenaki place names - lending their names further to parks, beaches, villages and towns. Some were named for nearby surroundings - Massabesic Lake, which may mean "at a great river", could refer to its proximity to the Merrimack. Others might refer to their shape - can you see the goose head in Lake Sunapee?

(Also included in this section of the map: the etymology of Coös County in northern New Hampshire).

Kancamagus Highway (TripSavvy)

Mountains and Important Sites

Many of New Hampshire's mountains are named for Euro-American figures, like Presidents of the United States. Yet there are a handful of mountains - including one that gives its name to a well-known ski resort! - that have Abenaki origins.

Three pins on this map mark three different important sites:

  • Past: Weir's Beach, an important meeting place for the Abenaki
  • Present: Odanak, Quebec - where many descendants of Abenaki from New Hampshire now live
  • Commemorating an Abenaki leader: the famous Kancamagus Highway runs through the region where Pennacook Sachem Kancamagus was forced to retreat as settlers pushed Abenaki people away from their homes

Status of Indigenous Peoples' Day by New Hampshire Town

One important step to recognizing the historic and continued injustices perpetuated against Indigenous peoples of this continent, as well as to celebrate the contributions Native people still give to society and culture today, progressive jurisdictions have begun adopting, recognizing, or officially celebrating Indigenous Peoples' Day. Currently, nine cities and towns in New Hampshire have at least temporarily adopted this holiday. For details on the status of the holiday in these nine cities and towns,  see this document  provided by the Indigenous NH Collaborative Collective.

Sources

*The place(s) that each source was used for are in parentheses after each citation.

Atkinson, Jay. “Where There's a Will, There's Pawtuckaway.” New Hampshire Magazine, Yankee Publishing, Inc., 18 June 2020, www.nhmagazine.com/where-theres-a-will-theres-pawtuckaway/. (Pawtuckaway)

Beals, Jr., Charles Edward. Passaconaway in the White Mountains: Chapter III: Wonalancet, the "Pleasant-Breathing". sidis.net/Passaconaway/PASSChap3.htm. (Wonalancet)

Bright, William. Native American Placenames of the United States. University of Oklahoma Press, 2004. (Androscoggin, Ashuelot, Attitash, Chickwolnepy, Coös, Magalloway, Mascoma, Massabesic, Opechee, Pawtuckaway, Piscassic, Sunapee, Umbagog, Waumbek)

Bushnell, Mark. “How Places Around Bartlett Got Their Names.” Bartlett Historical Society, 2011, www.bartletthistory.net/how-places-got-their-names. (Waumbek)

Dionne, Mark. “Paths to New Hampshire's Native Past.” New Hampshire Magazine, 16 May 2019, www.nhmagazine.com/paths-to-new-hampshires-native-past/. (Weir Beach)

Gannett, Henry. The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office, 1905. (Ammonoosuc, Androscoggin, Ashuelot, Attitash, Chickwolnepy, Coös, Magalloway, Massabesic, Piscassic, Squam, Sunapee, Umbagog)

“History of Mascoma Lake.” Mascoma Lake Association, www.mascomalakeassociation.org/about-the-lake/about-mascoma-lake/. (Mascoma)

“History of the Kancamagus Highway in NH.” KancamagusHighway.com, 2020, kancamagushighway.com/history-of-the-kancamagus-highway-in-nh/. (Kancamagus, Paugus)

“Native American Heritage.” New Hampshire Folklife, Nh.gov, 2014, www.nh.gov/folklife/learning-center/traditions/native-american.htm.(Ammonoosuc, Massabesic, Odanak, Pisgah, Sunapee, Umbagog)

O'Neill, Mary. “Lakes Region Profiles - War and Peace on Lake Winnisquam.” The Laconia Daily Sun, 22 Apr. 2016, www.laconiadailysun.com/news/local/lakes-region-profiles-war-and-peace-on-lake-winnisquam/article_15af983a-55e4-5350-9b84-1dd8cfbd79b6.html. (Winnisquam)

“Squam Lake.” Lakesregion.org, New Hampshire Lakes Region Tourism Association, 16 Nov. 2020, www.lakesregion.org/squam-lake/. (Squam)

Yankee Magazine. “The Kancamagus Highway: How It Got Its Name & How to Pronounce It.” New England Today Travel, New England Today, 28 Sept. 2020, newengland.com/today/travel/new-hampshire/kancamagus/. (Kancamagus)

As seen in this 1958 map of "Historic Indian Trails", several of the rivers highlighted on the map on the left are listed as common paths for transportation.

Lake Winnisquam (Wikimedia Commons)

Kancamagus Highway (TripSavvy)