We, the Native and Indigenous Community within New Haven and the wider State of Connecticut, propose to include traditional Quiripi place names on entrance signs to all state parks and other local landmarks.

Unlike other Indigenous representation projects and efforts to Decolonize, this program would not involve the removal of any previous memorials or current features. Rather, we are advocating simply for additional inclusion of Quinnipiac place names in an effort to counter violent histories of dispossession and oppression. We know that these signs may not make a material difference to the lives of Native and Indigenous people living within CT, however the psychological impact on a sense of belonging and the benefits of daily reminders to Native and non-Native people alike of our true histories is incalculable. 

We would like to petition the Yale Peabody Museum to fund the costs of this program, firstly as a result of the profits made off of stolen colonial trophies but also as a way for Yale to do more to give back to New Haven in general.

 

List of Place Names:

The Quinnipiac language is Quiripi, a dialect of Eastern Algonquian.

Quinnipiac means long water land or long water country.

Momauguin band = New Haven

Montowese band = North Haven

Shaumpishuh band = Guildford 

Totoket band = Branford 

Hobbomock: Sleeping Giant State Park

Potatuck: Housatonic River

Mautumpseck: West Rock

Wappintumpseck: East Rock

Mioonkhtuck: East Haven, Fair Haven

Totoket: Branford, North Branford

Menunkatuck: Guilford, Madison

Hammonasset: Clinton, Saybrook

Nehantic: Durham, Haddam

Tunxis: Farmington

Mattatuck: Waterbury

Naugatuck: Derby, Ansonia, Orange

Wepawaug: Milford

Paugusset: New London

Wangunk: Mattabesec or Middletown

Podunk: Windsor

Ruttawoo: East River

Kuttomquosh: Thimble Islands

Mattabesec: Middletown

Hobbopapoose (“Devil’s Bay”) is the name for a bluff in New Haven, presently Fort Hale Park. 

Quinnirock was a location of an Indian village near a spring in the neighborhood of Townsend and Woodward Avenues in the present City of New Haven.

Tamtamtashurean (“summit of the mountain”) is a hill north of Raymond Hill, east of Townsend Avenue in the City of New Haven, presently known as Beacon Hill.