Significance of Potumtuk

As a thriving community, the Pokanoket rely on their ancestral lands to sustain their unique way of life. One of those areas is Potumtuk, otherwise known as Mount Hope. In 1955, the industrialist and philanthropist Rudolph L. Haffenrerffer donated 376 acres of Pokanoket land that comprises Potumtuk to Brown University, and in recent years the Pokanoket have been negotiating with the University to reclaim their ancestral spiritual grounds.

In their native language, “Potumtuk” translates to “lookout of the Pokanoket.” This location is central to Pokanoket history, culture, and spirituality. It is the location of Metacom’s Seat (King Phillip’s Chair), from which generations of leaders presided. The seat of granite and quartz was “made by the Creator,” and demonstrates the value of connecting to nature and the sacredness that each living and non-living being has. Many important meetings and gatherings were, and continue to be, located here. These ancestral grounds hold religious value as many Pokanoket rituals and ceremonies commence here including the Walk of Pineese Warriors, the Renewal of the Covenant, as well as various forms of communal prayers and thanksgivings. Out of 13 lunar thanksgivings that the Pokanoket celebrate, 4 are held at Potumtuk.

At the root of Pokanoket beliefs is the connection that humans have to the environment. Their forefathers believed that humans are to utilize and at the same time respect the creations of the Earth without being wasteful or greedy. This value is still held dearly by the Pokanoket people today. The Pokanoket are connected to the land, and as they walk the lands of Potumtuk they walk in the footsteps of their ancestors, creating a connection to their heritage. From the Three Sisters of corn, beans, and squash that provide nourishment from the garden to the eagle and wild deer, the Pokanoket are connected to their relatives through the Earth and all of its creations. The vivid stories that nature provides for the Pokanoket are integral to their spirituality.

Potumtuk is one of three sacred mountains for the Pokanoket Nation. In the recent past, the area has been heavily damaged due to the installation of an amusement park, military equipment, a museum, and private homes. Brown University has made it very difficult for the Pokanoket to access the sacred land to which they have had an unbroken connection for at least 10,000 years. Denying the Pokanoket access to their land is denying them access to their identity, to their history, and to the continued vitality of their community.