Native American Oral History by Brian Michaud, Spirit Bear |
| The Penacook tribe of the Eastern Abenaki Nation occupied the region we now know as Southern Main, Seacoast NH and Northern Mass. This was an Algonquian speaking people. The Abenaki Indians were the first recorded civilization to occupy the Mt. Agamenticus region; they referred to the area as Sassanoa, for an Abenaki leader. The Accominta Clan of the Pennecooks lived in the York area, the Newichawannocs lived in South Berwick and the Piscataqua lived across the river in Dover NH. The Accominta were descendants of the people that came here at the time of the melting ice cap, thousands of years ago. The word Accominta or Agamenticus translates to: “other side of the river.” |
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| The Algonquian Indians believed that an evil spirit inhabited mountain peaks and high places. It was said that St. Aspinquid, the Christian name of Passaconaway (Son of the Bear) and chief of the Penacook tribe, banished this evil spirit from Agamenticus and in so doing, Mount Agamenticus was a place of worship and held in high reverence as a sacred place. Agamenticus is the celebrated resting place of St. Aspinquid and has been visited by many locals (natives and westerners alike) paying homage to this once great Bashaba “Chief of all chiefs” since his death in the late 1600’s. Today, a pile of stones and commemorative sign can be found on the summit that is a Native American tribute to St. Aspinquid. |
| Spiritbear is a descendant of the Penacook and Micmac people. The Bear is a good sign with special power and represents wisdom, insight, introspection, protection and healing. The Bear is the guardian of the sacred places. Spiritbear invites all who respect the great out of doors and Grandfather Passaconaway’s legacy of peace to come to Mount Agamenticus, to commune with nature and enjoy it as a tranquil and serene common ground. |
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