Stockbridge History — Stockbridge-Munsee: It Is All About The "Dash"

by Rick Wilcox

The name Muh-he-con-neok or People of the Waters That Are Never Still, evolved over time. To the ears of the Dutch and English, it sounded like Mahican. In later years it was more commonly spelled Mohican.

"Stockbridge" Indians was a place name given by the English settlers to the band of Mohicans living in the Stockbridge area after the founding of the mission at Indian Town in 1737. Indian Town [Stockbridge] was not a homogenous community any more than Stockbridge is today and because of kinship issues and political affiliations created by marriages and other arrangements, members of other tribes lived among the Mohican people.

Originally, the Munsee Tribe was from the Delaware River Valley. Their community was large extending from New Jersey to the west side of the Hudson River bordering the Mohican territory. Although a distinct tribe, the Munsee tribe was considered "cousins" of the Mohicans.

During the American Revolution, the Munsee tribe moved into Canada. They returned from Canada after the Mohican Community established their reservation in Wisconsin. The Mohican community took in the Munsee tribe.

Hence the name Stockbridge (Mohican)-Munsee Band of the Mohican Nation, also called the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, which honors the two communities. To say Munsee Indians is to eliminate half of the membership.

Editor's note: Rick is correcting a common mistake: calling a people the Stockbridge Indians or the Munsee Community. Correctness is in the all-inclusive dash.

Fall day at Laurel Hill.