Our Quinnipiac Heritage Legacy
Preservation of the
Great Algonquian Trail Network
Of the Long Water Land Wejammoke
With Its Folklore and Landmarks
by Iron Thunderhorse
Noadt Aquampaio (Long ago in time)…the Seven Aboriginal Families of Torupe-Munhun (Turtle Island) established the Mittauhkuk-Atawagane-Mayagat or World Trade Trail-Network. In my book "WE THE PEOPLE CALLED QUINNIPIAC" (WTPCQ) I wrote about this network briefly and its origins within the Algonquian Family of the NE Woodlands/Dawnland. For example:
"Arthur C. Parker, Iroquois scholar and archaeologist/ showed that the Algonquian-speaking people migrated into the Mid-Atlantic Region in four successive waves…" (WTPCQ p. 33).
"He also noted an important detail: 'One of the principal contributions made by these people …was the fixing of trails…[these]…people [were] much given to hunting and fishing, but they also…carried
on barter…" (WTPCQ p. 33, id.)
These four waves of Algonquian migration down from our northern roots in Canada and Nova Scotia "may have covered several thousand years" according to Parker who was himself of Mohawk descent. He indicated that our Algonquian ancestors: "…scattered their hamlets over wide areas as if the group feared no predatory enemies and felt free to wander…" (WTPCQ p. 33. id.)
I also wrote the following general information about this system of trails that was an integral part of our folklore and Algonquian ethos:
"In Nova Scotia a path runs the entire length from north to south. It is called GLOOSCAP'S TRAIL even to this day and Nova Scotia's tourism department still includes the fact that MicMac (Northern Algonquian) lore dates back thousands of years and this path of the Algonquian culture-hero whose supernatural powers helped shape all the local landmarks as he wandered over the earth. In Canada [mainland], this trail continues down the coast and in America (USA) it split off into two very well known trails… the Long Trail [Quinnimayi] just east of Lake Champlain which continues south and enters Connecticut at Bear Mountain and crosses the Upper Housatonic River. The other part is known in America today as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. To the Quinnipiac [these trails] were known as Mishimayagat or 'The Great Trail System/Network' and to all Algonquian ancestors it is the Great Path of Our culture hero…known by various names..above the Canadian border and in Maine he is Glooscap…but below… New Hampshire and Vermont he is called Hobbomock. The name Glooscap means the "teller of tales' and the name Hobbomock (derives from Obamoqui) means 'the wanderer". The late Gordon M. Day, Algonquianist defines Hobbomock…as 'the Algonquian Transformer'" (WTPCQ p. 17)
The ancient tradition of color-coding and blazing Indian trails has a link to our ancient teachings as well. There were three kinds of trails…the paths of peace were white where merchants, and emissaries of peace walked freely on them, the paths of war were red where warriors followed war-captains jogging to a destination, attacked and ran back at breakneck speeds; they could run 75 to 100 miles per day, and the paths of condolences were black where mourners with shaved heads and skin colored black carried their dead to bury, and followed by ambassadors sent by our Sachems with gifts of tribute (a necessary sign of respect) to wipe away the tears of grief caused by natural/man-made and supernatural means. [See: e.g. ALGONQUIAN DAWNLANDERS OF SOUTHWESTERN NEW ENGLAND, by Iron Thunderhorse, QTC Press, and see also: "PATHWAYS OF OUR INDIAN ANCESTORS" by Iron Thunderhorse, QTC Press].
Today, the flags of our Wappinger-Mattabesec/Wampano-Quiripi Confederacy are red, white and black stripes. Legends of our Nation say that in ancient times all paths were covered with the colored shells of our wampum beads. Our aboriginal shamans smoked sacred assima in pipes made in the effigy images of our original clan oddodemoag (totem animals). Instead of smoke being blown out the shamans spit out colored wampum beads, red, white and black. This is the origins of the well-known beadspitter motifs found throughout the Dawnland by archeologists.
At major junctions along these paths great World Trade megaplexes were established. Here, at centers like Cahokia (see illustration below) were temples palisaded forts, trade fairs, artisan booths, culinary stalls, warehouses, docks and living quarters for the Sachems and holy people. In the 1100 to 1200 AD period Cahokia was the largest city in the world with a population of 30,000 and a 3-tiered mound (truncated pyramid) larger by volume than the Great Cheops Pyramid of Egypt.
Artist's conception of Cahokia World Trade megaplex circa 1100 A.D. — Cahokia Mounds Archaeological Site, Collinsville, IL
As the hereditary Quinnipiac Culture-Bearer it is my obligation to pass on the history to newer generations. At key areas along our Mishimayagat great earthen complexes were established at East Haven, Derby, Milford, Naugatuck, Saugatuck, Stamford, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Manhattan, throughout NY, CT, MA and on Paumanokke (Long Island, Land of Tribute makers [i.e. Wampum Bead manufacturers]) where ancient Indian Strongholds/Forts, and ancient earthen mounds were later used for intrusive mound burials as chronicled by Ezra Stiles of Yale, Orcutt and Beardsley et. al.
Even by modern standards the oldest of all Connecticut Blue-Blazed Trails is the Quinnipiac Trail [See: CONNECTICUT WALK BOOK, 60Th Ed.] Numerous other books have been devoted to the ancient Indian Trail networks in states of NY, PA, MA, etc. "THE GREAT TRAIL OF NEW ENGLAND" by H. Ayers (Boston: Meador Pub. Co. 1940) is one excellent source of information on our Algonquian roots. It recalls stories and history of the famous Indian Trail system in New England long before the Appalachian National Scenic Trail was developed. This was not a trail cut or blazed anew but was a revitalization of our ancient Mishimayagat.
This book talks about the Old Connecticut Trail which ran from Boston to Hartford, down to New Haven and over to Manhattan. It talks about an extension of the Quinnipiac Paths which connected the Narragansett of Providence, RI to CT. In the Connecticut Historical Society Collections in Hartford is one of several original GIANT WALL MAPS hand crafted by me. It shows all the ancient sachemdoms, strongholds, landmarks and ancient Indian Trails. It also has the most comprehensive collection of Indian place names ever assembled for Connecticut and comes with an additional 3 page 81/2 x 11 inch English Translations. It shows the ancient Quinnipiac-Tunxis Path, Quinnipiac-Wepawaug Path, Quinnipiac-Mattabesec Path, Quinnipiac-Shore Path and Mattabesec-Totoket Path all connecting our major subsachemships in western CT. The shoreline path alone runs the entire 100 miles of Connecticut shoreline connecting RI and NY to CT. Dozens of other books published between 1850 to 1950 have mentioned this Great Trail system that centers in the Long Water Land Wejammoke (Homeland)
Here's a few more historical FACTS you won't find anywhere else. When the original Boston Post Road (US Route 1) was being built it ran from Boston to New Haven to NYC right alongside the original CT/Quinnipiac Trails from NY to Florida this original US Route 1 followed the ancient Indian paths all along the eastern Atlantic coastline. Originally, our ancestors followed the game trails to watering holes and shelter…these became our footpaths, and earliest highways. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC did a photographic history showing these early highways being laid out and ahead nothing but forest and an ancient trail.
QTC PRESS, Netompoag Series I authored the official Guidebook entitled "There's more than rocks, trees and streams in the woods". It has several exclusive maps of these ancient trails. It also chronicles our folklore, stories, landmarks, petroglyphs and lithic structures as samples of our ancient systems and shamanic complexes. In one section of this guidebook is WEST WOODS COMPLEX which alone has its own color coded paths linking dozens of sacred landmarks such as rock shelters, Lost Lake (once called West Pond where an enclave of our ancestors lived up to the 20th century) At this rock shelter our medicine society people still go for the Dream-Fast ceremony seeking a dream or vision from the ancestors. The managers of this complex know us well and accommodate us.
So, it is with deep concern, regret and heartache that I must now talk about a project underway since 1995 that would erase, destroy and abandon all this history, lore and tradition for contemporary interests. It is tentatively known as the NEW ENGLAND SCENIC TRAIL. It proposes to establish 800 miles of footpaths through the heart of Connecticut into upper New England. At least former National Scenic Trails gave lip-service to our roots with the Mattabesec-Mettacomet and Metacomet-Monadunk Scenic Trails.
This new system begins in Guilford and runs along the Quinnipiac Shore Path network, into our East Shore Path (which was once our 1,200 acre reservation (see: map below) then on to East Rock Park and over the West Rock.
ACQTC Friends of the Long Water Land are preparing a PROCLAMATION with the following DEMANDS:
- markers all along this trail syetem must provide the name of the original path, and honor its original trailblazers the Quinnipiac.
- at least one information hub every 100 miles along the trail network must have maps showing the ancient trails on one side and the newer paths on the other with history and lore (similar to rest area stations along our USA highways) homoring the original inhabitants and trail-blazers history and lore.
- the name of the Trail System must be changed to one of the following:
- THE NATIONAL LONG WATER LAND SCENIC TRAIL
- THE NATIONAL LOWER DAWNLAND SCENIC TRAIL
- THE NATIONAL WAPPINGER-MATTABESEC CONFEDERACY SCENIC TRAIL
- THE NATIONAL QUINNIPIAC SACHEMDOM SCENIC TRAIL
We encourage all viewers, members, allies and friends to send emails to the original Trail developer and ACQTC lodging your protest and register your choice for what name you would like to see on this new trail system.
Send your emails to Paul-William Gagnon, NE Scenic Trail Developer, poagnon999 AT yahoo.com with copies to ACQTC2 AT yahoo.com and ironthunderhorse AT yahoo.com.
Arumshemocke, thank you kindly for your concern and assistance.
