Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican
The Mohican (Mahican) were a confederacy of tribes originally living in what is now upstate New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and adjacent parts of Canada.
The Mohican lived in stockaded villages located on hilltops and near rivers providing fish and transportation. Hunting and agriculture were important sources of food. Crops were fertilized using a mixture of fish remains and ashes. To carry and store their food, the Mohican wove baskets and made containers from bark. In the mid-1600's the Mohican became heavily involved in the Dutch fur trade.
Difficulties with nearby tribes and fighting between the French and English eventually caused the Mohican to begin a series of moves. The Stockbridge-Munsee Band migrated to Wisconsin and established their present reservation in 1832.
About the Flag:
The animals on the flag represent four clans of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican: wolf, turkey, bear, and turtle. The circle symbolizes the medicine wheel and the colors are associated with the four directions. In the center of the circle is a design created by Edwin Martin, a Mohican, called "Many Trails." This design symbolizes endurance, strength, and hope for a long-suffering, proud, and determined people.
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