"Perhaps no one is better qualified to write a history of the Montaukett Indians than John A. Strong. For nearly twenty years, his writings on the Algonquin people of Long Island have filled an important void in our understanding of the Northeastern Woodlands."—American Indian Culture and Research Journal
"A major strength of this volume is John Strong’s extensive use of original documents to underpin his contemporary view of a highly complex story. For a more accurate history of the island, this darker side needs to be known."—The Long Island Historical Journal
"Strong’s history gives one a solid feel for the fate of the Montauketts. Another piece of American Indian history has been brought vividly to life."—New York History
Description
Although the Montaukett were among the first tribes to establish relations with the English in the seventeenth century, until now very little has been written about the evolution of their interaction with the settlers. John A. Strong, a noted authority on the Indians of New York State’s Long Island, has written a concise history that focuses on the issue of land tenure in the relations between the English and the Montaukett.
This study covers the period from the earliest contacts to the New York Appellate Court decision in 1917—which declared the tribe to be extinct—to their current battle for the federal recognition necessary to reclaim portions of their land.
Strong also looks at related issues such as cultural assimilation, political and social tensions, and patterns of economic dependency among the Montaukett.
About the Author
John A. Strong is professor emeritus of history at Long Island University. He is the author of The Algonquin Peoples of Long Island from Earliest Times to 1700, and his articles have appeared in Ethnohistory, American Indian Culture and Research Journal, The Encyclopedia of North American Indians, and The Encyclopedia of New York State.
February 2006