Metoac

A modern map showing Long Island and most of New York City highlighted in green with locations and tribal exonyms^[1][2]

A modern map broadly showing language areas in the Mid-Atlantic region at the time of European contact in the 17th century^[1][2]

Metoac is a term erroneously used to describe Native Americans on Long Island in New York, in the belief that bands were distinct tribes of this location. Scholars now understand that these historic peoples were part of three major cultural groups: the Lenape, Wappinger-Wangunk-Quinnipiac and Pequot peoples, both part of the Algonquian languages family. The amateur anthropologist and U.S. Congressman Silas Wood published a book in the 19th century mistakenly claiming that several American Indian tribes were distinct to Long Island, New York. He collectively called them the Metoac.

Modern scientific scholarship has shown that Native American peoples on the island belonged to two major language and cultural groups among the Algonquian peoples who occupied Atlantic coastal areas from Canada through the American South. The bands in the western part of Long Island were related to those Algonquins which previously settled in the territory East of the Hudson river, related to peoples in what is now western Connecticut. Those to the east were more related culturally and linguistically to the Algonquian tribes of New England across Long Island Sound, such as the Pequot.^[1][2] Wood (and earlier colonial settlers) often confused Indian place names, by which the bands were known, as the names for different "tribes" living there.

Wood may have derived his collective term from metau-hok, the Algonquian word for the rough periwinkle,^[3] which played an important role in the economy of the region before and after the arrival of Europeans. Those entering western Long Island were mostly Dutch colonists, some from New Netherland. The eastern part of the island was colonized by English settlers from southern New England. Indigenous populations declined significantly within a few decades of European contact, due to diseases. Many of the place names given by the Lenape and Pequot populations are still in use today. The Shinnecock Indian Nation, based at what is now Southampton, New York in Suffolk County, has gained federal recognition as a tribe and has a reservation there.

Languages

The Native American population on Long Island has been estimated at 10,000 at the time of first contact.^[4][5] They spoke two languages within the Algonquian language group, reflecting their different connections to mainland peoples.^[6] Tribes in the west and in the central part of Long Island were in close relationship with Lenape, which occupied the territory on the western shore of the Hudson River and Wappinger, which lived on the eastern shore. This group of "Metoac" spoke one of the R-dialects, close to the language of Wappinger. However, it is worth noting tribes lived in and around what is now New York City, which were under very strong cultural influence of Lenape. Their dialect due to multiple contacts with speakers of L-dialects (Unami and Munsee) has acquired certain features typical for Lenape language. Finally, those lived on the east end of the island were related to the Pequot of eastern Connecticut, speaking a Y-dialect of the Mohegan-Montauk-Narragansett language.^[2]

European colonization

European colonization of the region began in the 1620s. From the north the New England Confederation exerted influence on eastern Long Island and along its north shore. The western portion (including what are now the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens) were under the jurisdiction of New Netherland. This separation between zones of Dutch and English influence was formalized in their Treaty of Hartford in 1650, which set a border running south from Oyster Bay. The Native Americans on Long Island played an important role in the trade economy as shells harvested there fashioned into small beads to create sewant, or wampum ("wampompeag" - shortened later by the English) used to decorate ceremonial wear were the most highly prized.

Displacement

The Pequot War (1634–1638) in southern New England and Kieft's War (1643–1645) in the New York metropolitan area were two major conflicts between the indigenous peoples and the colonists. Exposure to new Eurasian infectious diseases, such as measles and smallpox, dramatically reduced the numbers of Native Americans on Long Island. In addition, some Native American settlements on Long Island migrated away under pressure from European settlement. By 1659, their population was reduced to less than 500.

After the American Revolutionary War, their numbers were reduced to 162 people by 1788. By this time, Samson Occom had persuaded many survivors to join the Brothertown Indians in western upstate New York, where the Oneida people of the Iroquois Confederacy shared their reservation for several years.

Exonyms

For generations, colonists mistakenly used the place names as exonyms for peoples, thinking they referred to tribes. Among the many locations on Long Island used by the native peoples, 19th-century American publications identified the following thirteen as "tribes" on Long Island:^[7][8]

• Canarsie - in modern-day Brooklyn, New York and Maspeth, Queens, and Jamaica, New York. According to legend, the Carnarsee sold Manhattan to the Dutch Governor Peter Minuit for "24 dollars' worth of beads and trinkets.".^[9]
• Corchaug (Cochaug)(Cutchogue) - around Riverhead and Southold, New York in eastern Long Island. The Fort Corchaug Archaeological Site is on the National Register of Historic Places.
• Manhasset (also known as Manhansick) - located on Shelter Island, New York. The city of Manhasset, New York was named for them.
• Marsapeague (also known as Massapequa, Marsapequa, Maspeth), - Located on the south shore, from the Rockaways east into Suffolk County. Massapequa and Maspeth, Queens are derivations of this.
• Matinecock (also known as Matinecoc) - Located on the Long Island North Shore from Flushing, Queens to Huntington.
• Mericoke (also known as Merrick, Meroke, Merikoke, Meracock) - Located on the south shore from the Rockaways into Suffolk County. Merrick is a derivation of this.
• Montaukett (also known as Montauk, Meanticut)- Located in East Hampton, New York. Its sagamore Wyandanch had his name on the title transfer of most of Long Island to the European settlers.
• Nissequaq (also known as Nesaquake, Missaquogue)- Located on the North Shore from Fresh Pond to Stony Brook in Suffolk County. The village of Nissequogue and the Nissequogue River are named after this.
• Rockaway (also known as Rechaweygh, Rechquaakie)- Located around Rockaway and portions of Jamaica and Maspeth The Rockaways is a place name derived from this.
• Secatague (also known as Secatoag, Secatogue) - Located at Islip on the south shore.
• Setauket (also known as Setalcott) - Located on the North Shore from Stony Brook to Wading River, New York. The village of Setauket is named after this.
• Shinnecock Indian Nation - Located in Southampton. The federally recognized tribe occupies the Shinnecock Reservation, New York.
• Unkechaug (also known as Patchogue, Onechechaug, Patchoag, Unchachaug, Unquaches, Unquachog, Unquachock, Unchechauge) - Located on the south shore from Brookhaven, New York to Southampton, New York.

State and federal recognition

Modern map showing linguistic groups, including areas where modern reservations are located

At the end of 2009, the administration of President Barack Obama announced the Shinnecock Indian Nation had met the federal criteria for recognition as a tribe.^[10] While the final ruling is subject to a comment period, it is likely the announcement will stand.

New York State has recognized the Shinnecock, based at Shinnecock Reservation near Southampton and the Unkechaugi, whose Poospatuck Reservation at Mastic is the smallest Indian reservation in the state. The Montaukett, a group around Montauk, is seeking both state and federal recognition.

References