Massasoit Friend of the Pilgrims Author:Virginia Voight The Wampanoags, whose greatest chief was Massasoit, were a group of Algonquian Indians. Their land bordered the east and north coasts of Narragansett Bay and extended into the woodlands of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. These peaceful Indians lived in dome-shaped wigwams made by bending long, thin, young trees into an arched form and then cover... more »ing it with birchbark or grasses and reeds woven into mats. They hunted, fished, gathered nuts and berries, and liked to sing and dance. Games of skill and competition in footracing and wrestling were also popular. The Wampanoags helped the Pilgrims survive their first winter by teaching them how to live in the woods and find food. Later they showed the new settlers how to grow corn and catch fish in the Indian manner. The Wampanoags called the deer, the bear, the fish, and the turtle their brothers. They worshiped nature and believed their dreams were sent by their gods to guide and help them.« less