Description
The Penobscot are an Indigenous people in North America from the Northeastern Woodlands region. They are organized as a federally recognized tribe in Maine and as a First Nations band government in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec. The Penobscot Nation, formerly known as the Penobscot Tribe of Maine, is the federally recognized tribe of Penobscot in the United States. Indigenous peoples are thought to have inhabited Maine and surrounding areas for at least 11,000 years. During the 16th century the Penobscot had contact with Europeans through the fur trade. It was lucrative and the Penobscot were willing to trade pelts for European goods such as metal axes, guns, and copper or iron cookware.
Language
Penobscot people historically spoke a dialect of Eastern Abenaki, an Algonquian language.
Culture
Penobscot subsistence was based on hunting, fishing, and collecting wild plants, with seasonal movement to obtain food. In winter small family groups lived in hunting camps within separate family territories, rights to which were inherited through the male line; larger camps and villages were inhabited during the summer. The tribal chief embodied little power, generally acting as a tribal representative in ceremonies or in dealings with outsiders and sometimes adjudicating disputes. During the 16th century the Penobscot had contact with Europeans through the fur trade. Hunting for fur pelts reduced the game, however, and the European trade introduced alcohol to Penobscot communities for the first time.