Description
Ashawagh—meaning "a place between"—was a vital Montaukett settlement near today’s Hand’s Creek, once called Copeces, or “little place of shelter.” These place names, rooted in Algonquian language, hold deep cultural and geographic significance, reflecting how Indigenous communities understood and related to the land. Ashawagh was a key site for seasonal hunting, fishing, and wampum production, linking it to broader Native trade networks across the Northeast. Though permanent Indigenous settlements were rare elsewhere along Three Mile Harbor, the area's continued importance is preserved not just in artifacts but in the names themselves, which speak to a longstanding, place-based knowledge that predates colonization and still resonates today.
Artwork Details
Title: Ashawagh
Year: 2016
Size: 16 x 20 inches
Edition: 2/10
