Mohegan facts for kids

Lester Skeesuk, a Narraganset-Mohegan, in traditional dress

The Mohegan are a Native American tribe. They are part of the Algonquian group. Historically, they lived in what is now Connecticut. Today, most Mohegan people belong to the Mohegan Indian Tribe. This tribe is officially recognized by the United States government. They live on a reservation in the eastern Thames River valley in south-central Connecticut.

The Mohegan Tribe is one of two federally recognized tribes in Connecticut. The other is the Mashantucket Pequot. At one time, the Mohegan and Pequot people were one group. They lived together in southeastern Connecticut. But over time, the Mohegan became separate. This happened as the powerful Pequot tribe lost control.

In 1637, English colonists attacked a main Pequot village. This happened during the Pequot War. The Mohegan leader, Uncas, helped the English. Uncas's name means "fox" in the Algonquian language. After this war, the Mohegan became their own tribe. The word Mohegan (pronounced /ˈmoʊhiːɡæn/) means "People of the Wolf" in their language.

Over many years, the Mohegan lost much of their land. In 1978, Chief Rolling Cloud Hamilton asked the government to officially recognize the Mohegan tribe. In 1994, a large group of Mohegan people gained federal recognition. They are known as the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut (MTIC). The U.S. government now sees them as the official Mohegan tribe. That same year, the government set aside land for their reservation.

Today, most Mohegan people live on the Mohegan Reservation. It is located near Uncasville in Montville. The MTIC operates the Mohegan Sun Casino on their reservation. They also run the Mohegan Sun Pocono in Pennsylvania.

Mohegan History

The Mohegan Indian Tribe has a long history in central southern Connecticut. They were once part of the Pequot people. However, they slowly became an independent group. The Mohegan became allies with the English colonists. They helped the English in the Pequot War of 1636. This war weakened the powerful Pequot tribe. As a reward, the colonists gave some Pequot captives to the Mohegan tribe.

Important Mohegan Places

The Mohegan homelands in Connecticut have many important places. These include Trading Cove on the Thames River and Cochegan Rock. Fort Shantok and Mohegan Hill are also significant. The Mohegan people built a church on Mohegan Hill in the early 1800s.

In 1931, the Tantaquidgeon family built the Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum. It is on Mohegan Hill. The museum holds tribal artifacts and stories. Gladys Tantaquidgeon (1899-2005) was a very important person. She served as the tribe's medicine woman and historian for many years. She studied anthropology and worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Gladys ran the museum for sixty years. It was one of the first museums owned and run by Native Americans.

Mohegan Leadership

In 1933, John E. Hamilton was named Grand Sachem, or chief. His mother, Alice Storey, chose him. This was done through a traditional process based on family lines. She was a direct descendant of Uncas. In Mohegan tradition, tribal leadership often passed down through the mother's family.

Land Claims and Official Recognition

In the 1960s, Native Americans across the country became more active. During this time, John Hamilton filed several land claims. He did this on behalf of the "Council of Descendants of Mohegan Indians." This group had about 300 members.

Seeking Federal Recognition

In 1978, the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) created a formal process. This process allowed tribes to gain federal recognition. It helped them get back their tribal sovereignty, or self-governance. The process had specific rules. Tribes had to show proof of their cultural history. That same year, Hamilton's group asked for federal recognition for the Mohegan tribe.

The process slowed down when John Hamilton passed away in 1988. The request for recognition was started again in 1989. However, the BIA first said that the Mohegan had not shown enough proof. They needed to show that their community and leadership had continued through the 20th century.

Proving Tribal Continuity

In 1990, another Mohegan group, led by Chief Courtland Fowler, responded to the BIA. They provided detailed information. This included family trees and records from the Mohegan Congregational Church. BIA researchers also used records from the Hamilton group. They used information kept by Gladys Tantaquidgeon. She had collected family histories and important facts about tribal members.

In 1990, the Fowler group, called the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut (MTIC), made a decision. They decided that tribal membership would be for descendants from a specific family group from around 1860. Federally recognized tribes have the right to decide their own membership rules.

In 1994, the BIA made its final decision. They said that the family histories and records proved the tribe's social and political continuity. Because of this, the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut (MTIC) became a recognized sovereign tribal nation.

That same year, Congress passed a law for the Mohegan Nation. This law allowed the United States to set aside land for the Mohegan reservation. It also settled their land claims. The MTIC then created its own written constitution. The MTIC is led by a chief, an elected chairman, and an elected tribal council.

The Mohegan people who followed Sachem John Hamilton still exist as a separate group today. They continue to hold gatherings and activities.

Mohegan Language: Lost and Found

The last person who spoke the Mohegan language as their first language was Fidelia "Flying Bird" A. Hoscott Fielding. She passed away in 1908. Her diaries recorded much of the language. An early anthropologist, Frank Speck, also wrote about it.

Gladys Tantaquidgeon, Fidelia's niece, worked to save the language. Since 2012, the Mohegan Tribe has started a project. They want to bring their language back to life. They hope to teach new generations to speak it.

Traditional Plant Knowledge

The Mohegan people have always known a lot about local plants and animals. They had skills in hunting and fishing. They also knew about seasonal changes and herbal medicine. This knowledge was passed down through generations.

Gladys Tantaquidgeon was very important in writing down this herbal medicine knowledge. She also recorded traditional stories. She compared these practices to those of other Algonquian peoples. These included the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) and Wampanoag tribes.

For example, the Mohegan use the bark from the south side of a silver maple tree. They make a drink from it to treat coughs. They also use the inner bark of the sugar maple for coughs. The sap from the sugar maple is used as a sweetener and to make maple syrup.

Mohegan vs. Mohican: A Common Mix-Up

The Mohegan and Mohican tribes have similar names. However, they are different tribes. They both share similar Algonquian cultures. They also speak languages from the larger Algonquian language family.

The Mohican tribe historically lived along the upper Hudson River in eastern New York. They also lived along the upper Housatonic River in western Massachusetts. In old documents, both tribes were sometimes called "Mohican." This was due to translation mistakes. But the Dutch explorer Adriaen Block clearly told them apart. He called them "Morhicans" (Mohegans) and "Mahicans."

In 1735, Mohican leaders worked with the Massachusetts Governor. They founded the town of Stockbridge, Massachusetts. This was a mission village. After the American Revolution, many Mohican people moved west. They settled in Wisconsin. Today, they are known as the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians. Their story inspired the famous book, "The Last of the Mohicans."

Most Mohegan descendants, however, have continued to live in New England. They have stayed mainly in Connecticut since colonial times.

Famous Mohegan People

• Emma Fielding Baker: She helped bring back the Green Corn Ceremony. She was also a Tribal Chairperson.
• Fidelia Hoscott Fielding (1827–1908): She was the last person to speak the Mohegan-Pequot language as her first language.
• John E. Hamilton (1897-1988): Known as Grand Sachem Chief Rolling Cloud. He was an activist for Native American rights.
• Samson Occom (1723–1792): A Presbyterian minister. He helped the Brothertown Indians move to New York state.
• Gladys Tantaquidgeon (1899–2005): An anthropologist and herbalist. She helped start the Tantaquidgeon Museum. She worked to save Mohegan culture for many years.
• Uncas (c. 1588 – c. 1683): A famous sachem (chief) of the Mohegan.
• Oneco: Son of Uncas.
• Mahomet Weyonomon: A sachem who traveled to England in 1735. He sought better treatment for his people.
• Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel: Mohegan Tribal Historian and author. She wrote books about Mohegan culture.
• Madeline Sayet: A writer, director, and actress, born in 1989.
• Stephanie Fielding: A linguist.
• Faith Davison: A researcher and consultant.

Mohegan in Literature

Lydia Sigourney wrote poems about the Mohegan nation. In 1827, she published "The Rival Kings of Mohegan, contrasted with the Rival Brothers of Persia." She also wrote "The Chair of the Indian King" and "Burial of Mazeen." "The Chair of the Indian King" describes a rocky place known as "the chair of Uncas." Mazeen is described as the last of the Mohegan royal line.

See also

In Spanish: Mohegan para niños