Pre-colonial population New Netherland

the first trading partners of new netherlanders algonquian lived in area. dutch depended on indigenous population capture, skin, , deliver pelts them, beaver. hudson s peaceful contact local mahicans encouraged them establish fort nassau in 1614, first of many garrisoned trading stations built. in 1628, mohawks (members of iroquois confederacy) conquered mahicans, retreated connecticut. mohawks gained near-monopoly in fur trade dutch, controlled upstate adirondacks , mohawk valley through center of new york.

the algonquian lenape population around new york bay , along lower hudson seasonally migrational people. dutch called numerous tribes collectively river indians, known exonyms wecquaesgeek, hackensack, raritan, canarsee, , tappan. these groups had frequent contact new netherlanders. munsee inhabited highlands, hudson valley, , northern new jersey, while minquas (called susquehannocks english) lived west of zuyd rivier along , beyond susquehanna river, dutch regarded boundary virginia.

company policy required land purchased indigenous peoples. wic offer land patent, recipient of responsible negotiating deal representatives of local population, sachem or high chief. dutch (referred natives swannekins, or salt water people) , wilden (as dutch called natives) had vastly different conceptions of ownership , use of land—so did not understand each other @ all. dutch thought proffer of gifts in form of sewant or manufactured goods trade agreement , defense alliance, gave them exclusive rights farming, hunting, , fishing. often, indians did not vacate property, or reappeared seasonally, according migration patterns. willing share land europeans, indians did not intend leave or give access. misunderstanding , other differences led violent conflict later. @ same time, such differences marked beginnings of multicultural society.