The Abenaki Heritage Initiative is designed to enrich the stories of Native people in the Seacoast region as told at the Museum.

Over the years, Strawbery Banke has hosted panel discussions and lecture series about Indigenous heritage; featured Indigenous artisans, storytellers, and experts; and added exhibits and events focused on the heritage of Abenaki peoples. The Abenaki Heritage Initiative provides an umbrella under which to organize the continued relationship building with Abenaki descendant communities and planned daily programming and special events featuring Indigenous stories. 

Strawbery Banke’s Abenaki Heritage Initiative is an important part of the Museum’s mission to promote understanding of the lives of individuals in this historic neighborhood, as well as the Museum’s commitment to provide an inclusive environment and share diverse histories.

People of the Dawn

According to Tribal oral tradition, Abenaki people have lived in the place now called New Hampshire for more than 12,000 years -- since before Tribal memory. The Abenaki are part of a larger group of indigenous people who called themselves Wabanaki or “People of the Dawn,” and form one of many communities connected by a common Algonquian language family. From present-day Newfoundland to the mid-Atlantic, these peoples also shared traditions, beliefs, and resources, and were connected by trade networks and family relationships.

Just as people enjoy vacationing on the Seacoast today, Abenaki people came to this area seasonally to set up camps for hunting, fishing, and food preparation.  

We’re Still Here

Today there are 24,909 NH residents who identify as Native American or Alaska Native, according to the 2020 U.S. Census (1.8% of the NH population). These are Abenaki people, as well as people from other tribes across the United States who have made NH their home. Other Abenaki people live across the U.S. and Canada. Native people are members of our schools, our neighborhoods, and our communities.

Although Abenaki people today live modern lifestyles and live in modern homes, many also honor traditions, which may include making special meals or practicing traditional arts. These traditions are explored in the People of the Dawnland exhibit in the Jones House.

  • People of the Dawnland Exhibit

    An interactive exhibit exploring Abenaki culture, arts, foodways, and storytelling traditions.

  • Wigwam

    Museum staff worked with Indigenous collaborators to build a wigwam frame on the museum grounds, which stood next to the People of the Dawnland exhibit for three years. Learn more about this wigwam and how wigwams are built here.

  • Homelands: Augmented Reality

    This app brings Abenaki lifeways of the past, present, and future into the world as you visit Strawbery Banke. It is recommended that users download the app in advance of their site visits. To learn more and download the app for iPhone or Android, click here.