All across North America, Native people faced unimaginable challenges as they sought to sustain their families and communities in a world dramatically altered by colonization. Many died of disease or were killed or sold into slavery by colonists. Others fought back. And many, like Waban and his followers, did not merely survive colonization, but invented new ways of living that reconciled harsh realities with long-cherished traditions and beliefs.
The history of Indigenous peoples includes countless examples of “survivance” — dynamic, creative ways of maintaining Native identity and culture despite colonial invasion.
Today, the legacy of survivance is carried forward by Indigenous communities across the Commonwealth and beyond.
Header Image: South Natick Dam, Summer 2020. Image courtesy of the Natick Historical Society.