Queens - A Patchwork Of Cultures

Native Americans populated Queens long before the first Europeans dared test the horizon with their wooden galleons. For the tribal natives, who had already lived here for thousands of years, the phrase “New World” didn’t have much significance .

One tribe, the Matinecocks, established villages at what are now College Point, Flushing, Whitestone, Bayside, Douglaston, Little Neck, and in various places across Long Island.

A generally peaceful people, the Matinecocks lived off the land and didn’t take from it more than was necessary for survival. They hunted no animals for sport, and they offered prayers of thanks to the ones they did kill for food. Back then, giant sturgeon migrated through the free-flowing, clean waters of the East River; forest and woodland were as common as concrete and skyscrapers are today.

Archeologist Eugene Bousch has conducted extensive excavations in Queens. Working with the Poppenhusen Institute, the community cultural center in College Point, he has helped uncover some of the Matinecock legacy long hidden beneath Queens’ houses and highways.

“They were mainly agriculturists,” Bousch said. “[They] grew mostly corn, beans and squash.”

Evidence of indigenous peoples in Queens stretches as far back as 10,000 years, according to findings by Poppenhusen.

Several archeological sites have been uncovered throughout Queens, offering clues to what life was like for the first people to settle our borough. During the 1930s, one was excavated at Graham Court, during a dig by several College Point archeologists. In 1997, another site—near 114th Street and 14th Ave.—garnered enough attention to bring about state legislation requiring mandatory excavations on any area where artifacts have been uncovered.

Tallman’s Island (127th Street and Lax Ave.) is believed to have been either a pow-wow site or a village.

The College Point Nursing Home is believed to be the former site of the primary Matinecock village.

Bousch worked on the site at 114th Street and 14th Avenue. He says most of the pottery shards, quartz waste shavings, and projectile points found there were determined to date from 1500 BC to 1000 AD.

WORLDS COLLIDE

Native Americans participate in annual pow-wows held in locations throughout Queens. Tribune photo by Ira Cohen

The first white settlers arrived in the 1630s and 40s. Encounters with European colonists eventually resulted in the diminishment of the Matinecocks and other area tribes, in both power and population.

Not only did the Europeans bring warfare with them, but new, foreign diseases like small pox, which ravaged a population lacking natural immunities to combat them.
Bousch discussed the effects that European settlers had on the Native Americans. The passing out of blankets contaminated with small pox, he said, was “wittingly or unwittingly an example of early germ warfare.”

In an effort to keep the peace, tribe members entered into negotiations for land sales with the European settlers. But for a culture perceiving itself as custodian of the land—rather than owner of it—deeds and contracts of land ownership had little meaning. With no concept of land transference, for the Matinecocks, fair trade was lost in translation.

One descendent of the Matinecock royal family, Nuppaqua — whose name translates to Water Woman, Giver of Life —today still bears the wounds of what she considers a dirty deal handed to her ancestors. She is the present-day Matinecock Council Chairperson, as well as a respected healer and dancer. Nuppaqua explained that there is much debate over the ownership of the land of New York City, which is a focus point for the council.

Scandinavians were the first explorers in the area and traded with the Native Americans.

“They had respect,” said Nuppaqua. “They would come, trade, then return [to their native lands].”

The Dutch and English engaged the Matinecocks in a similar fashion, with explorers journeying across the Atlantic in search of new barter to secure. The Dutch and English, however, established a permanent presence in the Americas.

“We have deeds to property on Long Island and they are not honored,” said Nuppaqua. “The documents that indicated the sale of Manhattan and land throughout New York City do not contain authentic Native American signatures. We own half of Long Island and downtown Manhattan.”

She also claims that Chief Takapusha, one of the great Matinecock leaders and a direct descendant of hers, never sold the land. She claims that as there was no concept of land-ownership among her descendents—they believed all land was under the ownership of the earth, not humans—there could therefore be no legal sale of property.

Nuppaqua said that the majority of people dismiss Native Americans, offering little or no respect.

“The Matinecocks are the only tribe within city limits,” she said. “We are a national landmark with federal recognition, and are listed in the Department of Interior as a National Treasure. And still we are treated badly.

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