Mashantucket Pequot Tribe facts for kids
Tribal Flag
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| Total population | |
|---|---|
| Enrolled members: 1,086 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
United States, ( Connecticut) |
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| Languages | |
| English, formerly Pequot | |
| Religion | |
| Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Mohegan and Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation |
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is a recognized American Indian tribe in Connecticut. They are descendants of the Pequot people. The Pequot were an Algonquian-speaking tribe. They used to be very powerful in the coastal areas of southern New England.
Today, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe owns and runs Foxwoods Resort Casino. This casino is located on their reservation in Ledyard, Connecticut. In 2018, Foxwoods was one of the biggest casinos in the world. It was known for its large size and many slot machines.
The United States government officially recognized the tribe in 1983. This happened through a special law called the Mashantucket Pequot Land Claims Settlement Act. This law helped the tribe get back land they had lost. It also gave them money to buy more land. To be a tribal member, you must prove you are directly related to 11 Pequot families. These families were listed in the 1900 U.S. Census.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribe is one of two federally recognized tribes in Connecticut. The other is the Mohegan Indian Tribe.
Contents
Where is the Mashantucket Pequot Reservation?
The Mashantucket Pequot Indian Reservation is a special land area. It is held in trust by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). The reservation is in Mashantucket, Connecticut. This area is part of New London County. It is also near the Pequot River, which is now called the Thames River.
The tribe also owns some land outside the reservation. This land is in Preston. The reservation was first set up by the Connecticut Colony in 1666. In the early 1900s, only a few tribal members lived there. By 1973, the last person living on the reservation, Elizabeth George, passed away. The state then started planning to take the land back.
In 1976, Richard "Skip" Hayward became the tribal leader. He led the Mashantucket Pequot in a lawsuit. They argued that over 800 acres of their land had been sold illegally in 1855. In 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a law to settle this land claim. This law also officially recognized the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. Since then, the tribe has bought more land. They have placed it in trust with the BIA. By the year 2000, their total land area was about 2.17 square miles.
Who are the Mashantucket Pequot People?
Today, there are more than 1,100 enrolled members in the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. As a federally recognized tribe, they decide who can become a member. Members must prove they are direct descendants of 11 Mashantucket Pequot ancestors. These ancestors were listed in the U.S. censuses of 1900 and 1910.
In 1996, the tribe voted to stop new enrollments. The only exception is for children born to current tribal members. The 2000 census showed 325 people living on the reservation. Most of them identified as American Indian. Some also identified as having more than one background. This includes non-Pequot spouses. Since then, the tribe has built more homes. More members continue to move to the reservation.
A Look at Mashantucket Pequot History
The Mashantucket Pequot people are descendants of the historic Pequot tribe. The Pequot spoke an Algonquian language. They lived along the coast from the Niantic River in Connecticut to the Wecapaug River in Rhode Island. They also lived south to Long Island Sound. Another group descended from the Pequot is the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.
Early Beginnings
Experts have studied old sites and languages. They found that tribes changed and moved over time. Many tribal stories also tell of big migrations and new tribes forming.
When Europeans first arrived, they traded with the coastal tribes. But, new diseases brought by Europeans caused many deaths. During the colonial years, there were also wars between tribes. Boundaries changed, and power shifted.
Some early scholars thought the Pequot moved from the Hudson River Valley. They believed the Pequot came to Connecticut around 1500. This idea came from a Puritan colonist named Rev. William Hubbard in 1677. He said the Pequot had invaded the area before Plymouth Colony was founded. Hubbard wrote a book after King Philip's War. He described Native Americans as fierce attackers. He did not see how colonists' actions caused conflicts. He might have called the Pequot "foreigners" to make the colonists seem more in the right.
However, most modern experts now agree. Evidence from archaeology, language, and old documents shows the Pequot were native to the Connecticut Valley for centuries. They were there long before Europeans arrived. By the time English colonies like Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay were set up, the Pequot were powerful. They were leaders in politics, military, and trade among Native Americans in Connecticut. About 16,000 Pequot people lived in this busy part of southern New England.
Impact of Diseases
A smallpox outbreak from 1616 to 1619 killed about 90% of Native Americans on the eastern New England coast. But, it did not reach the Pequot, Niantic, and Narragansett tribes. Because other tribes suffered so much, these groups became more powerful.
However, a smallpox epidemic in 1633 hit all Native people in the region. Historians believe 80% of the Pequot population died. By the time the Pequot War started in 1637, their numbers may have dropped to about 3,000 people.
The Pequot War
In 1637, the Connecticut and Massachusetts Bay colonies fought the Pequot. This war happened after the Pequot attacked Wethersfield, Connecticut. Several settlers died in that attack. Colonial forces, led by John Mason and John Underhill, attacked the Pequot stronghold at Mystic. Many Pequot people were killed.
The colonists enslaved the Pequot survivors. Some were forced to work as servants for the Puritan colonists. Most were sent to the West Indies to work on farms. Others were given to the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes. These tribes were enemies of the Pequot and had joined with the English.
A few Pequot returned or survived in their homeland. They lived on the edges of the land they once controlled. Over the years, they married people from other groups. Many people thought they had disappeared. But, many Pequot descendants, even if they were from mixed backgrounds, kept their culture. They welcomed others into their culture and continued to identify as Pequot.
20th Century History and Recognition
By the 1910 U.S. Census, only 13 tribal members lived on the reservation. In 1973, Elizabeth George, the last tribal member living on the 214-acre reservation, died. The government then started to take back the land.
In 1975, Richard Arthur Hayward became the tribal chairman. He worked hard to get federal recognition for the tribe. The tribe successfully convinced members of Congress to support their case. On October 18, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed the Connecticut Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. This law officially recognized the Mashantucket Pequot. They were the eighth American Indian tribe to gain federal recognition through a law from Congress.
A book called Without Reservation (2001) by Jeff Benedict suggested that the Mashantucket were not true descendants of the historic Pequot tribe. He claimed they were from the Narragansett tribe. The Pequot tribe strongly disagreed with the book. They said Benedict's research was wrong. They stated it did not show the correct family lines for Mashantucket Pequots listed in the 1900 and 1910 U.S. Censuses. Other experts, like Dr. Laurence Hauptman and Katherine A. Spilde, also criticized Benedict's book.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) has rules for tribes seeking recognition. Tribes must show they have continuously existed as a community since 1900. They also need to show they have their own government and rules for membership.
In 1993, Donald Trump, who owned businesses that competed with the Foxwoods casino, made comments to a Congressional committee. He said the casino owners did not look like "real Indians." Despite these comments, Trump later invested in another group, the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots, who were also seeking state recognition.
In 2002, the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation gained federal recognition. The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation was recognized in 2004. However, in 2005, the BIA took away the recognition of both these Connecticut tribes.
Rules for Tribal Membership
The Mashantucket Pequot tribe gets many requests from people wanting to join. To become a member, individuals must prove their family connection. They need to show they are descendants of people listed in the tribe's 1900 census. This is similar to how the Cherokee Nation uses old records to prove descent. The Mashantucket Pequot also now require genetic testing for newborns. This ensures they are related to the parent claiming tribal membership.
Modern Day Developments
New laws about tribal independence on Native American lands have helped some tribes. These laws allow tribes to start new businesses and earn money. The Mashantucket Pequot decided to use gambling as a way to make money. This money helps them fund other businesses and community programs.
In 1992, the Mashantucket Pequot opened their resort casino. It is called Foxwoods. It is now one of the largest and most successful casinos in the world. Foxwoods is located near a big city area. It provides many jobs for tribal members. More importantly, the tribe uses the money from the casino to invest in their community. For example, they built a museum next to the casino.
Next to Foxwoods, the tribe has the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. This museum teaches visitors about Pequot history and culture. It covers thousands of years. The museum is an educational place for both children and adults. It attracts visitors from all over the world. The museum also hosts local and international Native artists and musicians. It has changing exhibits of artifacts throughout the year.
Economy and Community Impact
Since 1992, the Mashantucket Pequots have owned and operated one of the world's largest resort casinos. The University of Connecticut studied how the Foxwoods casino affects Connecticut. Their report showed it has a good economic impact. It helps the nearby towns of Ledyard, Preston, and North Stonington. The state of Connecticut has also received over $4 billion from casino slot machine revenue.
Images for kids
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Mashantucket Pequot Museum Exterior
