Description

Caption on back of photograph written by Red Thunder Cloud reads: "Though living only fourteen miles apart, the Shinnecocks and the Montauks have rarely intermingled socially. The Shinnecocks accepted Negroes into their midst and inter-married freely with them. The Montauks as a tribe, rejected inter-marriage with Negroes, and have always remained aloof from the Shinnecocks. In August of 1944, the first pow wow was held at Turtle Back near Springy Banks in East Hampton. The occasion was the signing of a peace treaty between the Montauks and their one time enemies the Narragansetts of Rhode Island. The Federated Eastern Indian League sponsored the affair and the go between's were Chief Swimming Eel, lately deceased Schaghticoke Sachem of Connecticut and Red Thunder Cloud, author of these series. The Narragansett delegation consisted of Chief Sachem Night Hawk, Chief Roaring Bull, Mrs. Minnie Dove, Princess Teatta, Princess Pretty Flower, Prophet Eagle Eye, Owl's Head and Chief Pine tree. The Montauks were represented by Chief Buckskin, Charles Butler, Princess Occum (Eliza Beaman), Poniute III (Robert Butler) and Olive Pharoah, daughter of Samuel Wiuncombone Pharoah. Holes were dug five feet apart and Chief Roaring Bull buried the tomahawk for the Narragansetts and Chief Buckskin for the Montauks, while 200 interested spectators watched the proceedings. Roaring Bull then performed the Narragansett war dance and Poniute III, of Montuak offered the Montauk version of the war dance. Members of both tribes then sat down to a meal of quahog chowder and corn bread prepared by Prophet Eagle...

Record Contributed By

East Hampton Library

Record Harvested From

Empire State Digital Network