Chapter 1: Native peoples were stolen from New England. Some were taken to Bermuda. Now they're reconnecting

By Diane Orson

Published November 13, 2026 at 11:00 AM EST

Dominique Williams, Vice Chair of the St. David’s Islanders and Native Community and Collections Assistant at the National Museum of Bermuda stands in Dark Bottom on the Island of St. David’s in Bermuda.

Starting in the 1600s, European colonizers captured, bought and sold Native peoples from New England tribes. Some were shipped overseas to Bermuda. Hundreds of years later, their descendants found a way back to each other.

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Reconnection: How New England Tribes Found Family in Bermuda

Diane Orson

Diane Orson is a special correspondent with Connecticut Public and a contributing reporter to National Public Radio. Her stories have been heard on Morning Edition, All Things Considered, Weekend Edition, and The World from PRX. She spent seven years as CT Public’s local host for Morning Edition.

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