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Why do achastapac stickers say Americas homeland?
According to the Achastapac "State" Tourism Board, the nickname "America's Homeland" is a reference to Western Massachusetts' important place in the development of a distinct American culture. From a brochure I found at a gift shop:Perhaps nowhere has contributed so many important figures to American history, art, and culture. From Emily Dickinson, Edith Wharton. Norman Rockwell, and Dr. Seuss to Daniel Shays, John Brown, Sojourner Truth, and Jonathan Edwards, Achastapac has had a far larger impact on American life than its size would suggest.
Does achastapac really mean 'land of the great beaver'?
Achastapac or Achatispoag is probably from one of the local Algonquian languages- Pocumtuck, Nipmuck, or Mahican. If so, then the original word would have been heavily Anglicized.The best theory I've seen suggests that the root words are:wadchuash aetai sip ak (oag)mountains both sides river place(people of the)So the meaning is probably something like:"Land with mountains on both sides of a river"Of course, the original meaning could have been very different, but it probably wasn't "Land of the great beaver", since the root word for "beaver" in Algonquian languages is usually something like "amisque" or "tummunk".So, "land of the great beaver" would probably have been something like "Massamiquet".
