Travel

How did the Wampanoag travel?

The Wampanoag traveled by foot and by canoe. A man could run 100 miles in a single day. He could run 50 miles to deliver an urgent message and return to his village the same day. The Wampanoag used the trails that wound through the woodlands.

Families walked along these paths in single file when they moved from summer to winter villages. The man walked first. Women and children followed carrying baskets and hemp bags which held the family belongings. In the winter Indian-type snowshoes were worn by the hunters. Toboggans and sled were used to carry the fresh-killed animals, skins, and furs over the winter snow.

The canoes the Indians used were very light. Some canoes were made of young cedar saplings some were made of a dug out pine or chestnut tree. Using large quahogs shells and bone, they scraped over and over, until they finally hollowed in into shape.

Cedar tree Pine tree

A dugout canoe could carry 30 to 40 people. It was used in sea battles and to move families. Walking and using their canoes were the Wampanoag only means of transportation.

Click here to go back to the question page