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CIST Student Sandbox

IST 605: Native American History of New York

This guide is designed to help public library patrons of the Mid-Hudson Library System explore the rich and complex history of Native American communities in what is now New York State.

Videos to Watch

"Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican History | Tribal Histories" explores the rich and resilient history of the Mohican people, tracing their journey from their ancestral lands in the Hudson Valley of New York to their current home in Wisconsin. Narrated by Kimberly Vele, the film recounts the community’s displacement to Stockbridge, Massachusetts, their forced removal to Indiana, and their unification with the Munsee tribe. Despite centuries of upheaval and hardship, the Mohican Nation endures, defying James Fenimore Cooper's prediction of their extinction. This PBS short film provides a compelling narrative of survival, cultural preservation, and the strength of Indigenous identity.

The New York State Museum’s video Guhnawiyostha' - Sydney Calfrobe, Deer Clan; Tsadeyohdi - Denise Waterman, Turtle Clan explores the meaning of the name “Haudenosaunee” and the historical context of the term “Iroquois.” Filmed at the Onondaga Nation School, the video highlights the responsibilities and duties of the Six Nations, offering viewers a deeper understanding of Haudenosaunee culture and governance. The video provides valuable context for those studying Native American history and the enduring legacy of the Haudenosaunee Confederacy in New York.