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71-747: The Mohegan Tribe ( / ˈ m oʊ h iː ɡ æ n / ) is a federally recognized tribe and sovereign tribal nation of the Mohegan people . Their reservation is the Mohegan Indian Reservation , located on the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut . In 1997, the Mohegan Tribe's Council of Elders adopted a vision statement reflecting their identity and roots, stating the tribe’s commitment to ancestry, learning, and

142-596: A Mattabesic village near present-day Fairfield, Connecticut . The colonists memorialized this event as the Fairfield Swamp Fight (not to be confused with the Great Swamp Fight during King Philip's War ). The English surrounded the swamp and allowed several hundred to surrender, mostly women and children, but Sassacus slipped out before dawn with perhaps 80 warriors, and continued west. Sassacus and his followers had hoped to gain refuge among

213-613: A Mare of Edward Pomroye's killed by his Men. The Pequots were then bound by Covenant, That none should inhabit their native Country, nor should any of them be called PEQUOTS any more, but Moheags and Narragansatts for ever. Other Pequots were enslaved and shipped to Bermuda or the West Indies, or were forced to become household slaves in English households in Connecticut and Massachusetts Bay. The Colonies essentially declared

284-568: A community or body of people within range of this power by arbitrarily calling them an Indian tribe, but only that in respect of distinctly Indian communities the questions whether, to what extent, and for what time they shall be recognized and dealt with as dependent tribes" (at 46). Federal tribal recognition grants to tribes the right to certain benefits, and is largely administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). While trying to determine which groups were eligible for federal recognition in

355-539: A dynamic role in Mohegan culture, including, but not limited to, being a tool to connect one to one's ancestors. The early 1600s were a critical period of change for Connecticut tribes. The pressure from rapidly expanding European settlements created competition for land and resources, while new infectious diseases were decimating Indian populations. Within the Pequot Tribe at that time, a dispute erupted between

426-613: A fiery Oven", and "thus did the Lord judge among the Heathen." Of the estimated 500 Pequots in the fort, seven were taken prisoner and another seven escaped to the woods. The Narragansetts and Mohegans with Mason and Underhill's colonial militia were horrified by the actions and "manner of the Englishmen's fight… because it is too furious, and slays too many men." The Narragansetts attempted to leave and return home, but were cut off by

497-693: A historical tribe. Tribes seeking recognition must submit detailed petitions to the BIA's Office of Federal Acknowledgment. To be formally recognized as an Indian tribe, the US Congress can legislate recognition or a tribe can meet the seven criteria outlined by the Office of Federal Acknowledgment. These seven criteria are summarized as: The federal acknowledgment process can take years, even decades; delays of 12 to 14 years have occurred. The Shinnecock Indian Nation formally petitioned for recognition in 1978 and

568-533: A number of cattle and horses, and took two young girls captive. (They were daughters of William Swaine and were later ransomed by Dutch traders.) In all, the towns lost about 30 settlers. In May, leaders of Connecticut River towns met in Hartford, raised a militia, and placed Captain John Mason in command. Mason set out with 90 militia and 70 Mohegan warriors under Uncas; their orders were to directly attack

639-605: A reputation as a troublemaker and had been exiled from Plymouth Colony shortly before the incident on Block Island. In the weeks that followed, officials from Massachusetts Bay, Rhode Island , and Connecticut assumed that the Narragansetts were the likely culprits. They knew that the Indians of Block Island were allies of the Eastern Niantics, who were allied with the Narragansetts, and they became suspicious of

710-563: A revolving loan program that will help regional small businesses create jobs. The tribe is the first and only non-bank investor in such a program in Connecticut. In 2012, the Tribe hosted the annual U.S. Sustainable and Responsible Investing conference. As of 2012, they had invested more than any individual government agency in SRI efforts. In 2020, the tribe donated more than 50,000 dollars of food and donated other products to Montville Senior Center,

781-648: A strong advocate for ensuring that Connecticut's communities get a greater share of slot revenues. It proposed a successful initiative to modify the funding formula so that communities most affected by the casinos receive additional funds from the Pequot-Mohegan Fund. In addition, the Mohegan Tribe pays the Town of Montville $ 500,000 each year in lieu of taxes. The Tribe is a partner in the Community Economic Development Fund,

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852-634: Is a list of federally recognized tribes in the contiguous United States . There are also federally recognized Alaska Native tribes . As of January 8, 2024 , 574 Indian tribes were legally recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) of the United States. Of these, 228 are located in Alaska and 109 are located in California. 346 of the 574 federally recognized tribes are located in

923-559: Is used by the BIA to publish the list of "Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Tribes in the contiguous 48 states and those in Alaska are listed separately. Pequot War The result was the elimination of the Pequot tribe as a viable polity in southern New England , and the colonial authorities classified them as extinct. Survivors who remained in

994-636: The Department of the Interior explains, "federally recognized tribes are recognized as possessing certain inherent rights of self-government (i.e., tribal sovereignty)...." The constitution grants to the U.S. Congress the right to interact with tribes. More specifically, the Supreme Court of the United States in United States v. Sandoval warned, "it is not... that Congress may bring

1065-708: The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act of 1975 , which legitimized tribal entities by partially restoring Native American self-determination . Following the decisions made by the Indian Claims Commission in the 1950s, the BIA in 1978 published final rules with procedures that groups had to meet to secure federal tribal acknowledgment. There are seven criteria. Four have proven troublesome for most groups to prove: long-standing historical community, outside identification as Indians, political authority, and descent from

1136-600: The Mohegan Sun casino on October 12, 1996, near the former Fort Shantok site above the Thames River. With revenues from the casino, the tribe donates to charitable organizations throughout Connecticut and invests in the development of tribal businesses throughout the United States. In 1997 the Mohegan Tribe's Council of Elders adopted the following Vision Statement: In the Mohegan Constitution,

1207-422: The 1970s, government officials became aware of the need for consistent procedures. To illustrate, several federally unrecognized tribes encountered obstacles in bringing land claims ; United States v. Washington (1974) was a court case that affirmed the fishing treaty rights of Washington tribes; and other tribes demanded that the U.S. government recognize aboriginal titles . All the above culminated in

1278-457: The 574th tribe to gain federal recognition on December 20, 2019. The website USA.gov , the federal government's official web portal, also maintains an updated list of tribal governments . Ancillary information present in former versions of this list but no longer contained in the current listing has been included here in italic print. The Federal Register

1349-589: The Constitution of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, which they wrote in the 20th century. The Mohegan Nation is governed by the Mohegan people. They elect a Tribal Council of nine Tribal Members and a Council of Elders, composed of seven Tribal Members. All legislative and executive powers of the Tribe not granted to the Council of Elders are vested with the Tribal Council. Marilynn Malerba

1420-575: The Dutch abducted him and demanded a substantial amount of ransom for his safe return. The Pequots quickly sent bushels of wampum to the Dutch, but received only Tatobem's dead body in return. But the colonial officials in Boston did not accept the Pequots' excuses that they had been unaware of Stone's nationality. Pequot sachem Sassacus sent the colonists some wampum to atone for the killing, but he refused

1491-637: The European fur trade . A series of epidemics over the course of the previous three decades had severely reduced the Indian populations, and there was a power vacuum in the area as a result. The Dutch and the English from Western Europe were also striving to extend the reach of their trade into the North American interior to achieve dominance in the lush, fertile region. The colonies were new at

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1562-541: The Mohawk in present-day New York. However, the Mohawk instead murdered his bodyguard and him, afterwards sending his head and hands to Hartford (for reasons which were never made clear). This essentially ended the Pequot War; colonial officials continued to call for hunting down what remained of the Pequots after war's end, but they granted asylum to any who went to live with the Narragansetts or Mohegans. In September,

1633-718: The Mohegan Sun has generated substantial revenues for Connecticut's economy: The tribe is a part owner of the New England Black Wolves National Lacrosse League franchise, and full owner of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun . It is the first Native American tribe to own a professional sports franchise. In 2021, the WNBA introduced new jerseys to reflect the significant role of female leadership in Mohegan tribal tradition. The tribe designed

1704-493: The Mohegan Tribe secured 25 percent of slot revenues to the state to help fund services. It became a model agreement. Connecticut's Native American tribes have generated the highest revenues for the state aside from federal government installations. The government-to-government relationships that have developed between Connecticut and Mohegan have enabled quick resolutions to issues that have been raised, such as regulation of indoor smoking, alcohol service, and state police presence at

1775-531: The Mohegan Tribe's Constitution and laws, profits from Native American gaming support tribal governments' health, education, welfare, and infrastructure. Although tribes are entitled to certain federal grants, by 1997, the Mohegan Tribe was able to return or reject funds. That year, it turned back $ 2.2 million in grant funds to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for redistribution to other Native American nations. Since its opening in October 1996,

1846-572: The Mohegan tribe began to use its 1.3 billion dollar revenue to invest in other tribes. They loaned 3.1 million dollars to the Menominee Tribe and looked into more deals with other tribes. This promotes a tribe-helping-tribe mentality as revenues from Casinos are used largely to support reservation services. In 2016, the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and the Mohegan tribe entered a partnership. The Mohegan tribe helped remodel

1917-655: The Mohegans and Narragansetts met at the General Court of Connecticut and agreed on the disposition of the Pequot survivors. The agreement, known as the first Treaty of Hartford , was signed on September 21, 1638. About 200 Pequots survived the war; they finally gave up and submitted themselves under the authority of the sachem of the Mohegans or Narragansetts. There were then given to Onkos, Sachem of Monheag , Eighty; to Myan Tonimo, Sachem of Narragansett , Eighty; and to Nynigrett, Twenty, when he should satisfy for

1988-546: The Mohegans with the English colonists and the Pequots with the Dutch colonists. The peace ended between the Dutch and Pequots when the Pequots assaulted a tribe of Indians who had tried to trade in the area of Hartford. Tensions grew as the Massachusetts Bay Colony became a stronghold for wampum production, which the Narragansetts and Pequots had controlled until the mid-1630s. Adding to the tensions, John Stone and seven of his crew were murdered in 1634 by

2059-605: The Narragansett, openly sided with the English. The Narragansetts had warred with and lost territory to the Pequots in 1622. Now, their friend Roger Williams urged the Narragansetts to side with the English against the Pequots. Through the autumn and winter, Fort Saybrook was effectively besieged. People who ventured outside were killed. As spring arrived in 1637, the Pequots stepped up their raids on Connecticut towns. On April 23, Wangunk chief Sequin attacked Wethersfield with Pequot help. They killed six men and three women and

2130-405: The Narragansetts. The murderers, meanwhile, escaped and were given sanctuary with the Pequots. News of Oldham's death became the subject of sermons in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. In August, Governor Vane sent John Endecott to exact revenge on the Indians of Block Island . Endecott's party of roughly 90 men sailed to Block Island and attacked two apparently abandoned Niantic villages. Most of

2201-493: The Niantic escaped, while two of Endecott's men were injured. The English claimed to have killed 14, but later Narragansett reports claimed that only one Indian was killed on the island. The Massachusetts Bay militia burned the villages to the ground. They carried away crops that the Niantic had stored for winter and destroyed what they could not carry. Endecott went on to Fort Saybrook. The English at Saybrook were not happy about

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2272-659: The Niantics, western tributary clients of the Pequots. Stone was from the West Indies and had been banished from Boston for malfeasance, including drunkenness, adultery, and piracy. He had abducted two Western Niantic men, forcing them to show him the way up the Connecticut River. Soon after, his crew and he were attacked and killed by a larger group of Western Niantics. The initial reactions in Boston varied from indifference to outright joy at Stone's death, but

2343-575: The Paragon Casino Resort business. As of 2021, the Casino is moving towards being debt-free and was able to reinstate employee benefits. The Tunica-Biloxi tribe has assumed full control over the Casino once again while the Mohegan tribe stepped back. Both tribes chairmen have described the positive benefits that had been gained as a result of this collaboration. The Mohegan Tribe has used gaming to generate revenue for economic development of

2414-491: The Pequot Sachem Sassacus and the leader Uncas . Uncas left with his followers, who called themselves the Mohegan (Mohics) , or Wolf People, like their ancestors. Each tribe had its own idea of how to deal with conflicts with the English and other Europeans. Uncas (1598–1683) became Sachem of the Mohegan Tribe, which favored collaboration with the English colonists. The Pequot under Sassacus chose to fight

2485-429: The Pequot War were written within one year of the war. Later histories recounted events from a similar perspective, restating arguments first used by military leaders such as John Underhill and John Mason, as well as Puritans Increase Mather and his son Cotton Mather . Recent historians and others have reviewed these accounts. In 2004, an artist and archaeologist (Jack Dempsey and David R. Wagner) teamed up to evaluate

2556-463: The Pequot War, no significant battles occurred between Indians and southern New England colonists for about 38 years. This long period of peace came to an end in 1675 with King Philip's War . According to historian Andrew Lipman, the Pequot War introduced the practice of colonists and Indians taking body parts as trophies of battle. Honor and monetary reimbursement was given to those who brought back heads and scalps of Pequots. The earliest accounts of

2627-578: The Pequot at their fort. At Fort Saybrook, Captain Mason was joined by John Underhill with another 20 men. Underhill and Mason then sailed from Fort Saybrook to Narragansett Bay, a tactic intended to mislead Pequot spies along the shoreline into thinking that the English were not intending an attack. After gaining the support of 200 Narragansetts, Mason and Underhill marched their forces with Uncas and Wequash Cooke about 20 miles towards Mistick Fort (present-day Mystic ). They briefly camped at Porter's Rocks near

2698-421: The Pequot spirit, and they decided to abandon their villages and flee westward to seek refuge with the Mohawk tribe. Sassacus led roughly 400 warriors along the coast; when they crossed the Connecticut River, the Pequots killed three men whom they encountered near Fort Saybrook. In mid-June, John Mason set out from Saybrook with 160 men and 40 Mohegan scouts led by Uncas. They caught up with the refugees at Sasqua,

2769-693: The Pequot. Uncas settled his people in a village at Shantok on the Thames River , which the Tribe defended from a Narragansett invasion. It was sparked by related European as well as Indian conflicts. Finally, the Mohegan Tribe's alliance with the English kept its people relatively safe during the colonists' attacks on Native Americans during King Philip's War and afterward. The Mohegan Tribe has created and maintained an independent governmental structure since before Europeans arrived in North America. The Mohegan Government has evolved to exercise complete civil and criminal jurisdiction over their lands using

2840-415: The Pequots and English colonists, who were ill-prepared to face periods of famine. A more proximate cause of the war was the killing of a trader named John Oldham , who was attacked on a voyage to Block Island on July 20, 1636. Several of his crew and he were killed and his ship was looted by Narragansett -allied Indians, who sought to discourage settlers from trading with their Pequot rivals. Oldham had

2911-506: The Pequots extinct by prohibiting them from using the name any longer. The colonists attributed their victory over the hostile Pequot tribe to an act of God: Let the whole Earth be filled with his glory! Thus the lord was pleased to smite our Enemies in the hinder Parts, and to give us their Land for an Inheritance. This was the first instance wherein Algonquian peoples of southern New England encountered European-style warfare. After

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2982-412: The Pequots from the other village of Weinshauks and had to be rescued by Underhill's men—after which they reluctantly rejoined the colonists for protection and were used to carry the wounded, thereby freeing up more soldiers to fend off the numerous attacks along the withdrawal route. The destruction of people and the village at Mistick Fort and losing even more warriors during the withdrawal pursuit broke

3053-455: The Tribe, its members, and the surrounding communities. The Mohegan Tribe operates its casinos and resorts through Mohegan, previously known as Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority and then as Mohegan Gaming & Entertainment until May 2022. The organization develops and manages resorts in the United States, Canada, and Northern Asia. Mohegan's original casino, Mohegan Sun, directly employs about 10,000 individuals. As mandated by federal law and

3124-505: The US Congress passed the Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act. The US authorized the cleaned-up United Nuclear site for use as Mohegan reservation lands , and the property was transferred to the United States in trust for the tribe. Gaining a sovereign reservation enabled the Mohegan to establish gaming operations on their lands to generate revenue for welfare and economic development of their tribe. They opened

3195-656: The United States, including New Jersey, Washington, and Pennsylvania. In 2018, Mohegan Gaming and Entertainment was awarded the management contract for the Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort and Casino Niagara in Niagara Falls, Ontario under a 21-year contract beginning in June 2019. This marked its first properties in Canada. In September 2019, the company was also awarded a contract to operate

3266-640: The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, and Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Bank in New London. They provided 10,000 grocery bags to a food bank in Connecticut during this time, as well as gloves and masks to local medical professionals. A member of the Mohegan Tribe sits on the board of trustees for the University of Connecticut . In the past, Native American tribes had depended on outside resources to fund new developments for Casinos. In 2004,

3337-480: The Wampanoag since 1621. Beginning in the early 1630s, a series of contributing factors increased the tensions between English colonists and the tribes of southeastern New England. Efforts to control fur trade access resulted in a series of escalating incidents and attacks that increased tensions on both sides. Political divisions widened between the Pequots and Mohegans as they aligned with different trade sources,

3408-638: The addition of six tribes in Virginia under the Thomasina E. Jordan Indian Tribes of Virginia Federal Recognition Act of 2017, signed in January 2018 after the annual list had been published. In July 2018 the United States' Federal Register issued an official list of 573 tribes that are Indian Entities Recognized and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs . The Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana became

3479-559: The area were absorbed into other local tribes. The Pequot and the Mohegan people were at one time a single sociopolitical entity. Anthropologists and historians contend that they split into the two competing groups sometime before contact with the Puritan English colonists. The earliest historians of the Pequot War speculated that the Pequot people migrated from the upper Hudson River Valley toward central and eastern Connecticut sometime around 1500. These claims are disputed by

3550-654: The casino at the new Virgin Hotels Las Vegas , located on the former Hard Rock Hotel and Casino site. This made them the first Native American tribe to operate a Las Vegas casino. In May 2024, Mohegan and Virgin Hotels Las Vegas announced the end of their partnership, with the tribe expected to have exited by 2025. To promote its environmentally friendly philosophy, the tribe invested in a Wood Pellets facility. 41°29′24″N 72°05′17″W  /  41.49000°N 72.08806°W  / 41.49000; -72.08806 Federally recognized tribe This

3621-448: The colonial officials still felt compelled to protest the killing. According to the Pequots' later explanations, he was killed in reprisal for the Dutch murdering the principal Pequot sachem Tatobem, and they claimed to be unaware that Stone was English and not Dutch. (Contemporaneous accounts claim that the Pequots knew Stone to be English. ) In the earlier incident, Tatobem had boarded a Dutch vessel to trade. Instead of conducting trade,

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3692-550: The colonial period and loss of lands, the tribe struggled to maintain recognition of its identity. Legal proceedings started in 1704 . The tribe reorganized in the late 20th century and filed a federal land claims suit, seeking to regain land that the state of Connecticut had illegally sold. As part of the settlement, the Mohegan Nation gained federal recognition by the United States government in 1994. That year

3763-481: The colonists' demands that the warriors responsible for Stone's death be turned over to them for trial and punishment. The Great Colonial Hurricane of 1635 also placed a great deal of pressure on the harvests of that year, according to historian Katherine Grandjean, increasing competition for winter food supplies for several years afterwards throughout much of coastal Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. This, in turn, precipitated even greater tensions between

3834-466: The colonists, and other local tribes took sides in the Pequot War , which lasted from 1637 to 1638. Seeing the significant losses brought on by ongoing fighting, Uncas decided to befriend the European invaders. This controversial decision led to an uneasy alliance between Uncas and the Mohegan people with the English in the ensuing war with the Pequot (1637–1638). The Mohegan helped the English defeat

3905-609: The contiguous United States. Federally recognized tribes are those Native American tribes recognized by the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs as holding a government-to-government relationship with the US federal government . For Alaska Native tribes, see list of Alaska Native tribal entities . In the United States , the Native American tribe is a fundamental unit of sovereign tribal government. As

3976-678: The education of tribal members. (Mohegan Constitution, 1996, Article X, Section 2, h). Before the seventeenth century, the Mohegan were part of the Pequot Tribe, which emerged among Algonquian peoples located in present south central New England. Their life revolved around the outdoors, sustaining themselves through farming what is referred to as the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash, as well as sunflowers. As needed, they hunted and gathered various game and wild flora. Mohegan language contains many words related to stones. Stones play

4047-534: The environment. This is reflected in the constitution. Mohegan's independence as a sovereign nation has been documented by treaties and laws for over 350 years, such as the Treaty of Hartford , secured by their Sachem (Chief) Uncas after his cooperation and victory with the English in the Pequot War (1637–1638). Although the Treaty of Hartford established English recognition of the tribe's sovereignty in 1638, after

4118-461: The evidence of modern archaeology and anthropology finds. In the 1630s, the Connecticut River Valley was in turmoil. The Pequot aggressively extended their area of control at the expense of the Wampanoag to the north, the Narragansett to the east, the Connecticut River Valley Algonquian tribes and the Mohegan to the west, and the Lenape Algonquian people of Long Island to the south. The tribes contended for political dominance and control of

4189-431: The head of the Mystic River before mounting a surprise attack just before dawn. The Mystic Massacre started in the predawn hours of May 26, 1637, when colonial forces led by Captains John Mason and John Underhill, along with their allies from the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes, surrounded one of two main fortified Pequot villages at Mistick. Only 20 soldiers breached the palisade's gate and they were quickly overwhelmed, to

4260-449: The jerseys in a collaborative effort involving the Chief, Council of Elders, tribal council, and medicine woman. Each symbol on the jersey was chosen to correspond to a part of tribal history and identity. A tribe-affiliated company also owns Resorts Casino Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey , and Inspire Entertainment Resort located in Incheon , South Korea . Additionally, it is affiliated with other resorts throughout Northern Asia and

4331-412: The point that they used fire to create chaos and facilitate their escape. The ensuing conflagration trapped the majority of the Pequots; those who managed to escape the fire were slain by the soldiers and warriors who surrounded the fort. Mason later declared that the attack against the Pequots was the act of a God who "laughed his Enemies and the Enemies of his People to scorn", making the Pequot fort "as

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4402-416: The raid, but agreed that some of them would accompany Endecott as guides. Endecott sailed along the coast to a Pequot village, where he repeated the previous year's demand for those responsible for the death of Stone, and now also for those who murdered Oldham. After some discussion, Endecott concluded that the Pequots were stalling and attacked, but most escaped into the woods. Endecott had his forces burn down

4473-489: The reservation. The tribe provides a large source of revenue to the State of Connecticut, paying more than each corporation in the state combined. The Mohegan Tribe used its own funds to pay for the $ 35 million access road that enables visitors to reach Mohegan Sun without tying up Montville roads. The tribe has worked closely with its neighbors and provided the funding for an $ 11 million regional water project in order to ensure safe, clean drinking water . The tribe has been

4544-515: The sequence of events in the Pequot War. Their popular history took issue with events and whether John Mason and John Underhill wrote the accounts that appeared under their names. The authors have been adopted as honorary members of the Lenape Pequots. Most modern historians do not debate questions of the outcome of the battle or its chronology, such as Alfred A. Cave , a specialist in the ethnohistory of colonial America. However, Cave contends that Mason and Underhill's eyewitness accounts, as well as

4615-423: The settlement under the Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act (1994). The US took into trust the cleaned-up United Nuclear site for use by the Mohegan as a sovereign reservation . Since 1996, the tribe has slowly been buying pieces of their original land back. The Tribe opened the Mohegan Sun casino in 1996, two years after gaining federal recognition. The compact created between Connecticut and

4686-445: The time, as the original settlements had been founded in the 1620s. By 1636, the Dutch had fortified their trading post, and the English had built a trading fort at Saybrook . English Puritans from the Massachusetts Bay , along with the Pilgrims from Plymouth Colony , settled at the recently established river towns of Windsor (1632), Wethersfield (1633), Hartford (1635), and Springfield (1636). The Pilgrims had been allied with

4757-468: The tribe has acted as a democratic representative nation. A constitution was drafted in 1983 and has undergone several revisions and amendments since. The Council of Elders upholds and interprets this document. Following the Congressional passage of the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act , the Mohegan Nation used its cooperative relationship with the State of Connecticut to negotiate a gaming compact. It gained federal recognition in 1994 and received land in

4828-587: The tribe outlines it goals as: 1) To establish and enforce rules of tribal custom…for the management of tribal society, including  but not limited to, the  conduct  of  tribal  ceremonies  and rituals. (Mohegan Constitution, 1996, Article X, Section 2, h) (2)  To  promote  and  protect  the  health,  peace, morals,  and  general  welfare  of the Tribe  and  its  members,  and  to  establish  traditional  policies  regarding

4899-403: The village and crops before sailing home. In the aftermath, the English of Connecticut Colony had to deal with the anger of the Pequots. The Pequots attempted to get their allies to join their cause, some 36 tributary villages, but were only partly effective. The Western Niantic (Nehantic) joined them, but the Eastern Niantic remained neutral. The traditional enemies of the Pequot, the Mohegan and

4970-405: Was named the 18th lifetime chief of the Mohegan Tribe on August 15, 2010, and is the first female chief in modern history to hold this position. The Council of Elders oversees judicial matters and the tribe's cultural integrity. It also exercises legislative powers with respect to rules governing tribal membership and enrollment. The Tribal Court adjudicates on all non-gaming matters. Historically,

5041-518: Was recognized 32 years later in 2010. At a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs hearing, witnesses testified that the process was "broken, long, expensive, burdensome, intrusive, unfair, arbitrary and capricious, less than transparent, unpredictable, and subject to undue political influence and manipulation." The number of tribes increased to 567 in May 2016 with the inclusion of the Pamunkey tribe in Virginia who received their federal recognition in July 2015. The number of tribes increased to 573 with

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