Abenaki People - Subdivisions

Subdivisions

Historically, ethnologists have classified the Abenaki as groups: Western Abenaki and Eastern Abenaki. Within these groups are the Abenaki bands:

  • Western Abenaki
    • Amoskeay
    • Arsigantegok (also Arrasaguntacook, Ersegontegog, Assagunticook, Anasaguntacook), lived along the St. Francis River in Québec. Principal village: St. Francis (Odanak), therefore called St. Francis River Abenakis and came to be applied to all Western Abenakis.
    • Cocheco
    • Cowasuck (also Cohass, Cohasiac, Koasek, Koasek, Coos- "People of the Pines"), lived in the upper Connecticut River Valley. Principal village: Cowass, near Newbury, Vermont.
    • Missiquoi (also Masipskwoik, Mazipskikskoik, Missique, Misiskuoi, Missisco, Missiassik - "People of the Flint"), lived in the Missisquoi Valley, from Lake Champlain to the headwaters. Principal village around Swanton, Vermont). Also known as Sokoki.
    • Nashua
    • Ossipee, lived along the shores of Ossipee Lake in east-central New Hampshire. Often classed as Eastern Abenakis.
    • Pemigewasset
    • Pennacook (also Penacook, Penikoke, Openango), lived in the Merrimack Valley, therefore sometimes called Merrimack. Principal village Pennacook, Concord, New Hampshire. The Pennacook were once a large confederacy that were politically distinct and at odds with their northern Abenaki neighbors.
    • Pequawket (also Pigwacket, Pequaki), lived along the Saco River and in the White Mountains. Principal village Pigwacket was located on the upper Saco River near Fryeburg, Maine. Occupied an intermediate location, therefore sometimes classed as Eastern Abenakis.
    • Piscataqua
    • Sokoki (also Sokwaki, Squakheag, Socoquis, Sokoquius, Zooquagese, Soquachjck, Onejagese - "People Who Separated"), lived in the Middle and Upper Connecticut River Valley. Principal village: Squakheag, Northfield, Massachusetts, and Fort Hill.
    • Souhegan
    • Winnipesaukee (also Winnibisauga, Wioninebeseck, Winninebesakik - "region of the land around lakes"), lived along the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.
  • Eastern Abenaki
    • Apikwahki
    • Amaseconti, lived between the upper Kennebec and Androscoggin rivers in western Maine.
    • Androscoggin (also Alessikantekw, Arosaguntacock, Amariscoggin), lived in the Androscoggin Valley and along the St. Francis River, therefore often called St. Francis River Abenakis.
    • Kwupahag (also Kwapahag)
    • Kennebec (also Kinipekw, Kennebeck, Caniba, later known as Norridgewock), lived in the Kennebec River Valley in northern Maine. Principal village: Norridgewock (Naridgewalk, Neridgewok, Noronjawoke); other villages: Amaseconti (Amesokanti, Anmissoukanti), Kennebec, and Sagadahoc.
    • Odanak (also known as St. Francis, St. Francois du Lac), lived southwest of Trois-Rivières, Quebec, and included settlements along the St. Francois River.
    • Ossipee, lived along the shores of Ossipee Lake in east-central New Hampshire. Sometimes classed as Western Abenakis.
    • Penobscot (also Panawahpskek, Pamnaouamske, Pentagouet), lived in the Penobscot Valley. Principal villages: Penobscot (Pentagouet), now Indian Island, Old Town, Maine; other villages: Agguncia, Asnela, Catawamtek, Kenduskeag, Mattawamkeag, Meecombe, Negas, Olamon, Passadumkeag, Precaute, Segocket, and Wabigganus. Now considered a separate tribe.
    • Rocameca, lived along the upper Androscoggin River.
    • Wawinak (also Ouanwinak, Sheepscot, Wawenock, Wawnock, Wewenoc), lived in the coastal areas of southern Maine.
    • Wôlinak (also Becancour), lived around Trois-Rivières, Quebec.

Due to erroneous use of the word Abenaki to mean Wabanaki, all the Abenaki together with the Penobscot people are often described as "Western 'Wabenaki'" peoples, while the Mi'kmaq, Maliseet and Passamaquoddy are described as "Eastern 'Wabenaki'" peoples.

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