Leena Watts
The Wampanoag were Algonquian-speaking North American Indians who lived in parts of what are now the states of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, including Martha’s Vineyard and adjacent islands. The Wampanoag diet was largely based on the seasons, with corn (maize) being the staple, supplemented by fish and game. They also ate beans, squash, shellfish, lobsters, berries, nuts, and clams.
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What You'll Learn
Corn, beans, and squash
Corn, or maize, was the staple of the Wampanoag diet. It was very important to them, and they grew it in their gardens. Green corn, or corn in the milk, was available in August, and was a time of celebration for the Iroquois. It is not known if the Wampanoag celebrated in the same way.
Beans and squash were also a part of the Wampanoag diet. Green beans and summer squash were collected in July and August. These plants were often grown together with corn and sunflowers, as they thrived when cultivated together. The corn stalks provided a trellis for the beans to climb, while the beans' twining vines supported the corn in high winds. The squash plants provided shade to prevent weeds and retain water in the soil, and their spines discouraged deer and raccoons from entering the garden.
The Wampanoag people's traditional agricultural practices were based on working with the environment, and their knowledge was passed down through the generations. Today, there is a movement among Indigenous communities to restore traditional crops, including corn, beans, and squash, as a way of preserving cultural heritage and promoting food sovereignty.
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Shellfish and fish
The Wampanoag fished in the ocean and in inland rivers. They caught fish such as winter flounder, bass, cod, rock, bluefish, salmon, and lampreys. They also harvested shellfish, including lobsters, clams, and mussels. Clams were particularly important, as evidenced by the tall piles of shells that dotted the shoreline. The Wampanoag would dry the clams for storage and use them to make dishes like chowder, clam cakes, and quahog pies. They also used the quahog shells to make wampum beads, which could be used for adornment or as a form of currency.
Ocean fishing became a more prominent part of the Wampanoag diet as spring progressed into summer. John Josselyn, in 1674, described the types of fish and shellfish caught by the Wampanoag throughout the year:
> "Their fishing follows spring, summer, and fall of the leaf fisrt [sic] for lobsters, clams, flouke, lumps or plaise, and alewives, afterwards for bass, cod, rock, bluefish, slamon [sic], lampreys and such."
The Wampanoag also included fish in their traditional dishes. Sobaheg, the Wampanoag word for stew, could be adapted to include seasonal ingredients, such as fish.
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Meat and game
In addition to fish, the Wampanoag diet included meat from land animals. Wampanoag men hunted deer, turkeys, bears, muskrats, squirrels, and small game. The meat of these animals would be cooked in various ways, such as roasted deer haunch or venison skewers. The Wampanoag also ate less conventional meats, such as raccoon, fried frog legs, and turtle soup.
The Wampanoag people were semi-sedentary, moving seasonally between fixed sites. This allowed them to take advantage of the different food sources available in different locations and at different times of the year. They also preserved food for the winter, drying clams and storing corn, beans, and squash for later use.
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Berries and nuts
The Wampanoag diet was largely dictated by the seasons. They were semi-sedentary, moving between fixed sites as the seasons changed. In the spring, the Wampanoag would have been able to forage for berries and nuts, which were dried and stored for the winter.
The Wampanoag also ate nasaump, a dish made from dried corn, local berries, and nuts such as acorns and chestnuts. This was sometimes sweetened with maple syrup and boiled in water until it thickened, resembling porridge or oatmeal.
In the summer, the Wampanoag could collect bulrush and cattail roots, bulrush shoots, and bulrush seeds, which could be ground into flour. Cattail pollen could be eaten raw, cooked in soup, or roasted.
The Wampanoag also made use of the whole quahog clam, eating the meat and using the juice in dishes like chowder, and the shells to make wampum beads.
In the fall, the Wampanoag would have been able to collect nuts to use in dishes like sobaheg (stew). They also ate green beans, summer squash, and green corn, which was available in August.
In the winter, the Wampanoag would have relied on the dried and stored foods they had collected throughout the year.
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Seasonal eating
The Wampanoag diet was largely dictated by the seasons, with certain foods available at different times of the year. The Wampanoag year was divided into thirteen months, each named for important natural or cultural occurrences during that lunar cycle. For example, the Spring Month was called Sequanakeeswush, and the Harvest Month was Taquontikeeswush. On a broader scale, the year was divided into spring (Sequan or Aukeeteamitch), summer (Neepun or Quaqusquan), fall (Taquonck), and winter (Papone).
In early spring, the only ocean fish caught was the winter flounder, found in shallow water on the beach. As spring progressed, fishing became more prominent in the Wampanoag diet, with men venturing out into the ocean to fish for bass, cod, cunner, cusk, and mackerel, among other species. Clams were also an important part of the Wampanoag diet, as evidenced by the tall piles of shells that dotted the shoreline. Connecticut's tribes would make a summer journey to the shore to gather clams and dry them for winter food storage.
Corn was a staple of the Wampanoag diet and was likely used up around July. Beans and squash were also significant, with green beans and summer squash collected in July and August. In August, green corn, or "corn in the milk," became available, marking a time of celebration for the Iroquois. It is unclear if the Wampanoag marked this occasion in the same way. Bulrush and cattail roots, as well as bulrush shoots, were collected during the summer, and the seeds were harvested, dried, and ground into flour. Cattail pollen, which could be collected in late July, could be eaten raw, cooked in soup, or roasted.
In addition to the aforementioned foods, the Wampanoag also consumed shellfish, fish, lobsters, berries, nuts, and game. Women typically harvested corn, squash, and beans, while men hunted deer, turkeys, and small game. Children helped catch fish and harvest herbs. Traditional recipes included soup, cornbread, and stews, such as sobaheg, which could be adapted to include seasonal ingredients.
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Frequently asked questions
The Wampanoag diet consisted of meat, fish, plants, and crops.
The Wampanoag hunted and ate deer, moose, beaver, rabbit, skunk, and raccoon.
The Wampanoag fished in freshwater and saltwater. They ate freshwater fish like herring, trout, perch, catfish, and eels, and saltwater fish like cod, pollock, bass, mackerel, and sea eels.
The Wampanoag gathered nuts, berries, greens, and mushrooms from the woods. They also harvested crops like corn, squash, and beans.
The Wampanoag drank the juice from clams and ocean water. They also drank water and may have brewed small amounts of beer.
