New England native tribes work to honor and uplift heritage
New England native tribes work to honor and uplift heritage
Mashantucket Pequot tribal nation in Connecticut and Nipmuc tribe in Massachusetts manage 21st-century challenges
LEDYARD, Conn. —
New England’s Native American tribes, including the Mashpee Wampanoag, Wampanoag of Gay Head (Aquinnah), Mashantucket Pequot, Nipmuc and many others, maintain an enduring presence and influence that spans more than 15,000 years.
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is a federally recognized Native American tribe located in southeastern Connecticut, known for its rich history and cultural heritage. The tribe emphasizes cultural preservation and education through establishments including the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, the world's largest Native American museum. The tribe is committed to maintaining its traditions while navigating modern challenges. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation also runs the Foxwoods Resort Casino, which has become one of the largest casinos in the world.
The 13th annual Honoring the Veterans Powwow, hosted by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, honors the significant contributions of Native American communities to the United States armed services over the years. The ceremony opened with the U.S. national anthem, performed in the Navajo language by singer Michelle Thomas and her daughter.
Nipmuc cultural guardian Andre Strongbearheart leads No Loose Braids, a nonprofit focused on cultural revitalization and land stewardship. Through community workshops, including one recently held in Ashfield, Mass., Strongbearheart teaches traditional skills such as animal hide processing, which reconnects urban-dwelling tribal members with their ancestral ways. This cultural preservation initiative emphasizes the integration of indigenous practices and sustainable living, vital in a 21st-century context.
As a multimedia artist, Strongbearheart showcases the ongoing struggle for cultural identity and land rights, connecting past injustices with present-day resilience and self-determination among Native American tribes in New England in his visual poem, “Wrung from the inside Out.”
