Who were the Quinnipiac?

Honoring the Quinnipiac

Students at Albertus Magnus College have the privilege of going to school in New Haven, a city that is rich in culture. The privilege that students, staff, and faculty have is not one that the Quinnipiac tribe was able to experience. In 2023, we tend to take for granted the land that we occupy and fail to realize the horrors that took place where we stand.

In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we wish to go beyond stating that we occupy Native lands, but rather acknowledge the Quinnipiacs and how they lived. The Quinnipiac Tribe is one with a rich history and a strong culture. Evidence suggests that the Quinnipiacs lived in the New Haven area centuries before any contact with European settlers.

In modern times, the word “Quinnipiac” has lost its connection to the tribe from which it was derived. Many tribal communities in New England draw their names from the landscape of the land, a testament to the connection between the tribes and their homeland. Quinnipiac has been said to mean “long water land” and the people of the tribe used the water to sustain themselves. 

Quinnipiac History

The main village of the Quinnipiac occupied both sides of the Quinnipiac River which we now call New Haven (formerly known as Quinnipiac), North Haven (Montowese), and East Haven (Mioonkhtuck). While the exact population of the tribe at the beginning of the 17th century is uncertain, it is probable that over four thousand Indigenous men, women, and children lived within the Quinnipiac homelands. In 1634 and 1635, smallpox epidemics triggered by European contact resulted in a dramatic decline in the number of Quinnipiacs by 90 percent.

In 1638, colonials forced contracts between themselves and the native Quinnipiac people and created a ‘reserved’ space for the displaced Quinnipiacs to live, becoming the first Indian reservation in America. As colonial powers grew larger, their need for land grew too. Following this, tribal leaders were intimidated and forced to sell or give up their property. With the loss of connection to their homeland, the Quinnipiac people moved to reservations in Waterbury and joined other tribes such as the Paugussett, Schaghticoke, and the Tunxis in Farmington.

Quinnipiac Legend

In spite of the hardships the Quinnipiac people faced, their legends live on. For one, the Quinnipiacs had deities that were incredibly important to them, including Kiehtan and Hobbomock (the Sleeping Giant). Kiehtan was believed to be a spirit who dwelled in the southwest. After death, souls, both good and evil, would travel to his realm, living a life similar to one on earth. 

Hobbomock, known as the Sleeping Giant Mountain, is a place that many Albertus students frequent. However, the origins of the Sleeping Giant have been virtually lost. According to Quinnipiac legend, the Hobbomock, or Sleeping Giant, was a giant who taught the native people how to care for their homeland and communicate with animals. Hobbomock left the land for a while and when he returned, the people forgot the lessons he taught them about nature. Hobbomock was angry about the way the land was being treated and became destructive. Ultimately, one of the tribal people fed the giant with food that put him to sleep, and he remains sleeping.

Remembering the Quinnipiac

Throughout history, the Quinnipiac Tribe has faced hardships, including displacement and loss of their ancestral lands. Their story has been lost, but the tribe’s history, culture, and contributions deserve recognition and appreciation. As we continue to learn and understand the importance of indigenous cultures, it is crucial to honor the Quinnipiac Tribe and recognize the significance of the land that Albertus Magnus College and much of New Haven County occupies.

The next time you visit the Sleeping Giant or step on Quinnipiac land, be sure to pay attention to the legend of Hobbomock and the beautiful culture of the Quinnipiac.

To learn more about the Quinnipiac Tribe, you can click on the resources below.

Resources

Arellano, Ana. Outline of Quinnipiac Lands c. 1625. 22 Aug. 2019. Cheshire Herald, https://www.cheshireherald.com/News/Around-Town/Native-Americans-First-Inhabited-Cheshire-Land.html#gallery-3. 

Beach, Randall. “The Legacy of the Quinnipiac People Endures in a Soon-to-Be-Upgraded Viewing Space.” CT Insider, 4 Jan. 2022, www.ctinsider.com/connecticutmagazine/news-people/article/The-legacy-of-the-Quinnipiac-people-endures-in-a-17046615.php. 

Co, Cheshire Herald Publishing. “The Quinnipiac Tribe: Cheshire’s ‘Original People.’” Cheshire Herald, 22 Aug. 2019, www.cheshireherald.com/News/Around-Town/Native-Americans-First-Inhabited-Cheshire-Land.html#gallery-3. 

Holquist, Sebastian. “Who Were the Quinnipiacs?” New Haven Museum, 2011, www.newhavenmuseum.org/. 

Libby, Sam. “A Tribute to the Quinnipiac Indians Who Served as Guides and Teachers.” ProQuest, The New York Times, 2 Jan. 2000, www.proquest.com/docview/431360492?accountid=41652&parentSessionId=JzNwJLPwwb7K2LEEurFk3pAuYdQXHvbRbwdyl975ZPc%3D. 

Quinnipiac Facts for Kids, kids.kiddle.co/Quinnipiac. Accessed 8 Oct. 2023. 

“Quinnipiac: The People of the Long Water Land.” Connecticut History , 1 Aug. 2021, connecticuthistory.org/the-people-of-the-long-water/. 

Shelton, Sandi Kahn. “The Sleeping Giant Has a Name: Hobbomock, and Guilford Author Has New …” New Haven Register, 2011, www.nhregister.com/news/article/The-Sleeping-Giant-has-a-name-Hobbomock-and-11556296.php. 

“The Quinnipiacs of New Haven Harbor.” Fort Nathan Hale , 10 June 2007, www.fort-nathan-hale.org/Quinnipiac_History.html. 

“1638 — COLONISTS FROM MASSACHUSETTS MEET THE QUINNIPIAC INDIANS.” Society of Colonial Wars CT, www.colonialwarsct.org/1638_quinnipiac_indians.htm. Accessed 6 Oct. 2023.