Squaw Sachem depicted as part of the Robbins Memorial Flagstaff in Arlington, Massachusetts

Squaw Sachem of Mistick (c. 1590-1650 or 1667[1]) was a prominent leader of a Massachusett tribe who deeded large tracts of land in eastern Massachusetts to early colonial settlers.

Squaw Sachem was the widow of Nanepashemet, the Sachem of the Pawtucket Confederation of Indian tribes, who died in 1619.[2] Her given name is unknown and she was known in official deeds as the "Squaw Sachem."[3] Squaw Sachem ruled the Pawtucket Confederation lands aggressively and capably after Nanepashmet's death. Around 1635, along with several other Native Americans, she deeded land in Concord, Massachusetts to colonists, and by that time she had remarried to a tribal priest, Wompachowet (also known as Webcowit or Webcowet).[4][5] In 1639 she deeded the land of what was then Cambridge and Watertown to the colonists,[6] an area that covers much of what is now the Greater Boston area, including Newton, Arlington, Somerville, Malden, and Charlestown. She lived her last years on the west side of the Mystic Lakes near what is now Medford, Massachusetts, where she died sometime between 1650 and 1667. She is remembered on the Boston Women's Heritage Trail.[7] Her sons, Wonohaquaham, Montowampate, and Wenepoykin were tribal leaders as well. She is sometimes confused with other contemporary Squaw Sachems in the region, including Awashonks and Weetamoo.

Controversy

Using the Squaw Sachem of Mistick name or likeness has been protested by individuals of surrounding tribes as well as multiple social justice groups. There has been an ongoing battle (20+ years) to get rid of the use of the Sachem name and likeness as a mascot or logo in the surrounding towns. In 2020, the Sachem was removed as the mascot of the Winchester, Massachusetts public schools.[8] Defenders of mascots often state their intention to honor Native Americans by referring to positive traits, such as fighting spirit and their being strong, brave, stoic, dedicated, and proud; opponents see these traits as being based upon stereotypes of Native Americans as savages.[9]

The use of American Indian mascots as symbols in schools and university athletic programs is particularly troubling because schools are places of learning. These mascots are teaching stereotypical, misleading and too often, insulting images of American Indians. These negative lessons are not just affecting American Indian students; they are sending the wrong message to all students.

— Former APA President Ronald F. Levant, EdD

References

  1. ↑ "Squaw Sachem". 23 April 2008.
  2. ↑ "Queen of the Mystic: Squaw Sachem" Arlington Historical Society, https://arlingtonhistorical.org/queen-of-the-mystic-squaw-sachem/
  3. ↑ "Queen of the Mystic: Squaw Sachem" Arlington Historical Society, https://arlingtonhistorical.org/queen-of-the-mystic-squaw-sachem/
  4. ↑ M. A. HALEY, The Story of Somerville (Boston, 1903) https://archive.org/stream/storyofsomervill00haley/storyofsomervill00haley_djvu.txt
  5. ↑ Shattuck, Lemuel, History of the Town of Concord, Mass. (Boston, 1835)
  6. ↑ Hurd, Duane Hamilton (1890). History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, Volume 1. Philadelphia: J. W. Lewis. Retrieved 2010-02-25.
  7. ↑ "Charlestown". Boston Women's Heritage Trail.
  8. ↑ Rick Sobey, "Massachusetts school district removes Native American mascot as state looks at replacing state seal Winchester will no longer have the Sachem mascot," Boston Herald, July 29, 2020 https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/07/29/massachusetts-school-district-removes-native-american-mascot-as-state-looks-at-replacing-state-seal/
  9. ↑ Davis, Laurel R. (30 November 2001). "The Problems with Native American Mascots". Multicultural Education. 9 (4): 11–14.
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