The book, Native Americans of New England by Christoph Stobel, offers a comprehensive synthesis of indigenous history in the northeastern United States. Strobel’s work spans millennia, from the earliest archaeological evidence to contemporary times, providing a nuanced examination of how historic processes shaped Native lives while balancing accounts of colonization and dispossession with powerful narratives of indigenous resistance, adaptation, and survival. Click here for the 65-minute video of his talk recorded on April 1, 2025 by Wellesley Public Media.

History Department Chair Strobel begins by looking at the details of the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts before going on to talk about some of the myths about the Native population of the state.

When people of European descent came over, they brough with them a whole slew of diseases that the Native population had not been exposed to. In addition, many more died during King Philip’s War.

The Native population of New England continued to lose land and to suffer from racism and discrimination through the 19th century, but their continued struggle for civil rights and state and federal recognition has resulted in a cultral revitalization today.