ȣmiskanȣakȣiak, meaning the 'beaver tail-hill people' . Language The Nipmuc most likely spoke Loup A, a Southern New England Algonquian language. The language is undergoing revival within the communities. There are several 2nd language speakers. Ohketeau is one local organization working on language revitalization. Tribal divisions Daniel Gookin (1612–1687), Superintendent to the Native Americans and assistant of Eliot, was careful to distinguish the Nipmuc (proper), Wabquasset, Quaboag, and Nashaway tribes. The situation was fluid since these Native groups were decentralized, and individuals unhappy with their chiefs freely joined other groups. In addition, shifting alliances were made based on kinship, military, and tributary relationships with other tribes. The formation of the praying towns dissolved some tribal divisions, as members of different tribes settled together. Four groups that are associated with the Nipmuc peoples survive today. Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck, Dudley Indians Descendants of the Praying town of Chaunbunagungamaug, now part of Webster, on lands returned by the town of Dudley, Massachusetts. The tribe's reservation spans 2.5 acres in Thompson, CT, where its office is located, and across the border in Thompson, Connecticut. Hassanamisco Nipmuc, Grafton Indians Descendants of the Praying town of Hassanamessit, now part of Grafton, Massachusetts. The Cisco (Scisco, Ciscoe) family maintained their four acres from the final Hassamessit land sales; this serves as the current reservation. Natick Massachusett, Natick Nipmuc The descendants of the Praying town of Natick, Massachusetts do not retain any of their original lands. The Natick are primarily descended from the Massachusett in addition to having Nipmuc ancestry. They qualify for state services as Nipmuc. Connecticut Nipmuc Descendants of various Nipmuc who survived or relocated to Connecticut. The Nipmuc of Connecticut are not recognized by the state. Legal status State recognition Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis issued Executive Order #126 in 1976, which proclaimed that 'State agencies shall deal directly with ... [the] Hassanamisco Nipmuc ... on matters affecting the Nipmuc Tribe', as well as calling for the creation of a state 'Commission on Indian Affairs.' The all-Indian Commission was established; it conferred state support for education, health care, cultural continuity, and protection of remaining lands for the descendants of the Wampanoag, Nipmuc and Massachusett tribes. The state also calls for the examination of all human remains discovered in the course of construction and other projects, requiring notification of the Commission, who after the investigation by the State Archaeologist (in part in an effort to determine age of