Mohican, also known as Mahican, are an Algonquin-speaking North American Indian tribe who traditionally inhabited the Upper Hudson River Valley north to Lake Champlain and eastward to what is today Vermont, New York and Connecticut. Cold weather and short growing seasons in the Northeast limited agriculture and forced these tribes to develop excellent hunting and fishing skills as well as collecting wild rice and maple syrup. When able to cultivate crops the men would clear the fields but most of the farming was the responsibility of the women.


To understand where they lived, you need to first know how they came to be. A tribe known as the Mohegan's are the eastern branch of the Algonquian linguistic stock. And the MOHICAN's are a direct descendant of the Mohegan Indians, who settled in the South West Connecticut region in the early 17th century. Sound confusing? Well, try to follow their trail.

When the white settlers arrived in the Connecticut region (remember the Mohegans tribe was living there) they found two tribes, the Mohegan and Pequot, living together - under the rule of one chief, Sassacus. Later this chief became more recognized as the chief of the Pequot. After a few years, a subordinate chief, Uncas, rebelled against Sassacus and assumed leadership of a small band of Indians on the Thames river near Norwich. You guessed it. This small band of Indians became known as the Mohicans.

In 1643, after the fallout of the two tribes, many of the Pequot Indians joined the Mohicans. They numbered about 2,300. The tribe was favored by the English and gained their support, making them one of the strongest tribes in the South New England territory.

As the white settlers expanded further into indian territories, the Mohicans sold most of their land and accepted a reservation along the Thames river. By the early 19th century the Mohican tribe (in this region) became extinct.

But wait, another band of the Mohicans lived in the upper banks of the Hudson river extending to Lake Champlain. Around the same time that the fallout happened between Chief’s Uncas and Sassacus, this region of the Mohicans were in battle with the Mohawk tribe. When the Dutch arrived in the New York area, they brought firearms to support the Mohawk tribe. This war soon drove the Mohicans to move into the Delaware territory to join forces with that region of Indians. Several years later they moved to the Ohio region where they put themselves under protection of the Iroquois Confederacy in South New York.

Other Algonquin tribes include the Delaware, Fox, Illinois, Kickapoo, Massachuset, Menominee, Miami, Ottawa, Pequot, Sauk, Shawnee, Shinnecock and Wampanoag. While all different, these tribes during difficult times would often migrate and readily assimilate into other Algonquin tribes. Their ability to adapt to changing environments allowed them to prosper for many years.

Tag: Mohicans, the lost tribe