“Manaquayak” means a “safe or secure place" in Wampanoag, the indigenous language here. It’s called “Ice House” pond by me and others — made good ice back in early 1900's. It's a great swimming pond. But, this day I didn't feel safe, stood there, looking at a thorny twig, the pond and sky ...
Manaquayak | Ice House pond
“Manaquayak” is the Wampanoag name for an area, in now what’s West Tisbury, where woods encircle a pond.
It means a "safe or secure place."
To me, and other non-indigenous people, it’s called Ice House pond.
The ice cut there, in the early 1900’s, was free of leaves and twigs.
When I come to this place I’m eager. I usually swim across and back, stopping to tread and swim underwater. I play, feel safe — even far out in the middle.
But, on this day, I was standing at the end of plastic grid dock in my shorts, and I didn’t feel safe.
As if confirming my unease with a thorny metaphor, a twig, looking like bittersweet, floated at the spot I dive into the water. It just stayed there, didn't move — for forever.
I had to take a picture.
Manaquayak, and the twig, were telling me something.
And I don’t think it had much to do with cutting up blocks of ice…
Source: https://www.mvlandbank.com/properties/manaquayak-preserve
For Westerners, the way to Waskosim's Rock is bounded by the "blink of ownership." Wampanoag culture — once demarcated by this Laurentine bolder from white culture — stands half-way between Wampanoag arrival, 10,000 years ago, and Waskosim's, 20,000. What does "blink" mean in such perpetuity?
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