Wappani

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The Wappani, or the Wappinger, were a group of Native Americans whose territory in the 17th century spread along the eastern side of the Hudson River from Dutchess County south to Manhattan and east into parts of Connecticut. Although the European understanding of "tribes" did not generally apply for most of the Wappingers' history, they were most closely related to the Lenape and Mahicans, all speaking the Algonquian languages.

During Kieft's War in 1643, the various Wappinger groups united against the Dutch, attacking settlements throughout New Netherland. The most prominent group in that war were the Weckquaesgeek, more than 1500 of whom were killed in the two years of the war.

After the war, the confederation broke apart and the remaining Wappingers left their native lands for the protection of neighboring tribes.

The New York town of Wappinger and the village of Wappingers Falls are named for them.