In this, the fifth in a series on the 350th Anniversary of King Philip’s War, historian Stan Svec explores the various First Nations Confederations of New England. From the Mahican of the Tacconic through the tribe frequently referred to as the Wampanoag of Dawnlands, he explores the various Native People and their relationships as he moves closer to the beginning of the hostilities. Click here for a 15-minute video by Stan Svec of the Fishing Historic Places web channel posted on April 17, 2025.

Stan Svec begins by explaining that at the start of the War, Native people are grouped into several tribal confederations across southern New England. In the distant west along the Taconic Mountains were a group of people that we know collectively as the Mohecan who were pretty much unknown to the English colonists on the coast.

The people of the freshwater, the Nipmuc, were divided into dozens of small tribes and triblets. Among the people of the fresh water were the Quinsigamond, the Quabog, the Hassanamisco, the Norwatuk, and dozens of others small tribes that often were forgotten in the larger histories.

The Tarrantines were the first native people of New England to be armed with firearms, most likely from French sources, and, using them and swift canoes, descended like a thunderbolt on the Ponobscot. After making short work of them, the Tarrantines began raiding the Massachusett in a blood feud against the great chief of the Tribe.