Our first Yarmouth Reservation Walk of the season is coming on March 30th.
See our events page for details and to reserve tickets.

The Historical Society of Old Yarmouth is committed to learning about and sharing the history and traditions of Yarmouth’s native peoples. To that end we have partnered with Marcus Hendricks, a native Wampanoag Nipmuc.

You may have met Marcus at one of our past events. His talks about native culture were so popular we have gone a step further.

In the Spring of 2020, Marcus began working on the Too’noopahs (Turtle) Wetu Project in our meadow near the Nature Trails and Kelley Chapel. He has erected a traditional Wampanoag wetu and will be conducting a series of talks and walks discussing indigenous history as well as festivals celebrating local indigenous culture. You may visit the wetu any time you are in the area. Funding for these programs has been provided by the Kelley Foundation.

Coming events are on our events page, or our Facebook page.

Marcus has recently self-published a calendar: Full Circle 13 Moons of Northeastern Turtle Island. Full Circle is more than a calendar, it’s a guide to seasonal living. It begins on the first new moon after the Spring Equinox, giving you the option to use it year after year. The purpose of this calendar is to immerse yourself in the natural world around you. Realign with Turtle Island as you cycle through the seasons. You can find out more and purchase directly from his website.

Did you know Yarmouth has a memorial to our native indigenous peoples?

This cairn was built in 1881 by Daniel Wing Jr. on the southeastern slope of Long Pond in South Yarmouth to recognize last resting place of the Indigenous Peoples of Yarmouth. Over the years the cairn began to collapse and in 2017 a committee was formed to refurbish and restore it. Photos below show the restoration. A new sign was installed which is historically correct and will act as an educational tool for readers. You can view the sign here. The memorial is located on Indian Memorial Drive and is open to the public.

Detail from the sign shows this map of the former reservation area along Long Pond.

The following linked documents are compiled and written by Yarmouth resident and historian Robert D. Kelley. He is also an HSOY member.

The History of the Reservation of the Indigenous Peoples of Yarmouth, 1713-1778
Excerpts of writings relating to the Indigenous Peoples of Bass River and their leader, Nauhaught
Sarah’s Swamp

The maps linked below illustrate reservation lands formerly belonging to Yarmouth’s Indigenous Peoples and their subsequent subdivision.

The Yarmouth Reservation between Long Pond & Bass River in 1713
Reservation Dissolution 1779
Old Indian Congregational Meetinghouse Grounds 1713
Overview of the Yarmouth Reservation and the Meetinghouse Land

Click here to see a large album of Wampanoag portraits from the Native North American Indian Facebook page.