Passamaquoddy

The Passamaquoddy are a Native American/First Nations people who live in northeastern North America, primarily in Maine and New Brunswick.

Related Topics:
Native American - First Nations - North America - Maine - New Brunswick

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The Passamaquoddy lacked a written history before the arrival of Europeans but do have an extensive oral tradition. They maintained a nomadic existence in the well-watered woods and mountains of the coastal regions along the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine, hunting inland in the winter and fishing on the coast and islands in the summer. The literal meaning of Passamaquoddy is "pollock spearing place" or "place where pollock are plentiful," reflecting the importance of this fish.

Related Topics:
Bay of Fundy - Gulf of Maine - Pollock

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They were moved off land repeatedly by European settlers since the 16th century and were eventually limited in the United States to the current Indian Township Reservation in eastern Washington County, Maine. The Passamaquoddy also live in Charlotte County, New Brunswick, and maintain active land claims but have no legal status in Canada as a First Nation.

Related Topics:
16th century - Washington County, Maine - Charlotte County, New Brunswick - First Nation

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The Passamaquoddy population in Maine is about 2,500 people, with more than half of adults still speaking the Passamaquoddy language, which belongs to the Algonquian branch of the Algic language family.

Related Topics:
Algonquian - Algic

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The Passamaquoddy may be best known outside the region for Passamaquoddy v. Morton, a 1975 land claims lawsuit in the United States which opened the door to successful land claims negotiations for many eastern tribes, giving federal recognition and millions of dollars to purchase trust lands.

Related Topics:
Passamaquoddy v. Morton - 1975 - United States

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Passamaquoddy Bay, straddling the United States-Canada border between New Brunswick and Maine, derives its name from the Passamaquoddy people.

Related Topics:
Passamaquoddy Bay - United States-Canada border

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