History of the Muh-he-con-nuk IndiansHendrick Aupaumut (1757-1830), wrote one of the first ethnographies about a native Muh Indian -he-con-nuk Indians in the year 1791 (Levine 629). According to Sandra Gustafson, Aupaumut was born in the Native American town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts (Levine 629). Gustafson wrote that Aupaumut received instruction from a Protestant minister in writing, speaking, and reading the English language (Levine 629). Aupaumut fought with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War (Levine 629). In the mid-1780s, after the Revolutionary War, Aupaumut became chief of the Stockbridge Indians (Levine 629). Aupaumut moved the Stockbridge Indians to the community of New Stockbridge in upstate New York (Levine 630). In 1790, Aupaumut served President George Washington as a diplomat (Levine 631). Aupaumut negotiated peaceful agreements regarding hostilities between the United States and several Indian nations (Levine 631). In 1791 Aupaumut wrote the ethnography “History of the Muh-he-con-nuk Indians” (Levine 630). Aupaumut's ethnographic writings provided historical insight into the religious beliefs of the Mahican people and the governmental responsibilities of the Mahican people (Levine 630). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayHendrick Aupaumut wrote about the religious beliefs of the Muh-he-con-nuk Indians in the ethnography “History of the Muh-he-con -nuk Indians” (Levine 630-631). Aupaumut wrote that the ancestors of the Muh Indians also -he-con-nuk believed in a Supreme Creator before their conversion to Christianity (Levine 630) The name of the Supreme Creator of the Indian Muh-he-con-nuk was called “Waun-theet Mon-nit-toow”. Great, Good Spirit) (Levine 630). Aupaumut wrote that Waun-theet Mon-nit-toow was the creator of the earth and the universe (Levine 630). all things on earth and throughout the universe (Levine 630). The Muh-he-con-nuk Indians believed in a devil or evil spirit which they called “Mton-toow or evil spirit” (Levine 630). that the Mton-toow tempted people “to tell a lie, to be angry, to fight, to hate, to steal, to commit murder, and to be envious, malicious, and evil-speaking” (Levine 630). Aupaumut stated that the ancestors of the Muh-he-con-nuk Indians created customs that were observed and passed down from generation to generation (Levine 630). One of the customs observed was the family function (Levine 630-631). Aupaumut wrote that the head of the family was responsible for teaching his children about the Great and Good Spirit (Levine 630-631). The head of the family taught his children that the Great and Good Spirit kept them safe (Levine 630-631). The head of the family also taught his children that they should love and be kind to all people (Levine 631). The Muh-he-con-nuk Indians called people who did not help people in need “Uh-wu-theet” (Levine 631). “Un-wu-theet” was a name given to “hard hearts” and those people would not be helped in their time of need (Levine 631). While religion gave strength and comfort to the Muh-he-con-nuk Indians, government gave stability to the Indian nation (Levine 631). The government of the Muh-he-con-nuk Indians consisted of five positions of authority (Levine 631-633). The first government job fell to the Chief Sachem. Aupaumut wrote that the Chief Sachem was called “Wi-gow-wauw” (Levine 631). In the article “Ninigret, Sachem of the Niantics and Narragansets: Diplomacy, War, and the Balance of Power in Seventeenth-Century New England and Indian Country,” written by Julie Fischer and David Silverman, the responsibilities of the chief Sachem are discussed ( 3 -6, 18)..
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