Waban

Waban (1604-1685?) was an American Indian and is often considered to be tribal chief of the Nonantum Tribe, but this is a misnomer. According to Christian missionary John Eliot, Waban was actually "the chief minister of justice", not a "sachem". The title "chief minister of justice" is not used by the native peoples. In other words, Waban did not hold an authoritative, political position within his own nation. He was the first American Indian converted to Christianity in Massachusetts. [ [http://www.wabanimprovement.org/waban%20early%20days/wabanwind.htm Waban, the Wind ] ] On October 28, 1646 (Julian calendar), the Rev. John Eliot, preached his first sermon to Native Americans in their own language in Waban's large wigwam in Nonantum, Massachusetts and Waban and many of his tribe were converted.

One of the villages of the city of Newton, Massachusetts is named Waban, while Nonantum is another village in the city. Waban Hill is a geologic feature in the village of Chestnut Hill in the eastern part of Newton. [ [http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/praying.html Praying Indians ] ]

ee also

*Praying Indian
*Waban (MBTA station)
*Waban, Massachusetts

References

Jennings, Francis. "The Invasion of America: Indians, Colonialism and the Cant of Conquest." New York: W.W. Norton, 1975.

Tinker, George (Tink). "Missionary Conquest: The Gospel and Native American Cultural Genocide." Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1993.

External links

* [http://www.bio.umass.edu/biology/conn.river/praying.html Praying Indians]
* [http://www.wabanimprovement.org/waban%20early%20days/wabanwind.htm Waban, the Wind, by Arthur M. Southwick]