Tribal Directory Locations: Massachusetts

<p>The original people that lived in Massachusetts belonged to three primary tribes, which consisted of several smaller allied tribes. These three tribes included the Wampanoag, Mohegan, and Mohican, all of which followed similar dietary and survival strategies. Massachusetts’ Native Americans practiced a semi-nomadic lifestyle, living in permanent villages in the winter and traveling more during the summer months. Because tribes often moved during the summer, they constructed wigwams for shelter because they were easy to build and break down for later use. In addition to fish and other game hunted by men, villages relied on cultivated crops like corn, beans, and squash for sustenance. Also, the women would gather wild berries, mushrooms, nuts, and more to add variety to their diet. Typically, tribes in Massachusetts, like the Mohican, would dry and smoke certain foods to preserve them for the winter months. Today, there are two federally recognized tribes in Massachusetts. </p>