Written by Thomas Green (Massachusett Tribe)
This land is Naumkeag, or “fishing place”, where Indigenous people lived, traveled, and cared for the land for thousands of years. From the village along the Naumkeag River (now the North River) to Sachem Nanepashemet’s fortification on what is now Castle Hill, the people of Naumkeag farmed, fished, traded, raised families, created art, and honored this place long before English settlement.
Prior to English and French intervention, the village of Naumkeag was home to the Pawtucket people, part of a wider confederation led by the Massachusett Tribe Sachems of the Blood. Between 1616 and 1619, plague brought by English traders devastated the Pawtucket. Continued English expansion in the 17th century displaced survivors from their homeland; some joined neighboring tribes, some moved to praying towns, and many descendants today may not know their Pawtucket lineage after 400 years of colonial disruption.
We acknowledge that Salem is Indigenous land and honor the Massachusett Tribe, who continue to care for the land, water, and spirit of this place.
For more than twenty years, the City of Salem has worked to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous partners, supporting cultural reclamation, learning traditional sustainable lifeways, and engaging with accurate Indigenous history. These efforts reflect Indigenous values of community, generosity, and responsibility to one another and to the land.
With open minds and hearts, the residents of Salem look toward a future shaped by collaboration, respect, and cultural diversity.
Tags: City of Salem, History, indigenous, massachusett tribe, native, naumkeag, Salem
