Mohegan Tribe

Mohegan Tribe of Native Americans of Connecticut
Flag of Mohegan
Flag
Motto: "Mundu Wigo"  (Mohegan)
"The Creator is Good"
CapitalUncasville, Connecticut
Official languagesEnglish
Mohegan
Demonym(s)Mohegan
GovernmentElective monarchy
• Tribal Chief
Marilynn Malerba
James Gessner
• Council of Elders Chairman
Laurence Roberge
LegislatureMohegan Government
Tribal Council
Council of Elders
Independence
• de facto
September 21, 1638
March 7, 1994
Area
• Total
2.05 km2 (0.79 sq mi)
Population
• 2010 estimate
1,920
CurrencyUnited States dollar
Time zoneET

The Mohegan Tribe (/ˈmhɡæn/) 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 the environment.[1] This is reflected in the constitution.[2]

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 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 the US Congress passed the Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act.[3] 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 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.[4]

  1. ^ "History of the Mohegan Tribe" (PDF). Portal.CT.Gov: 41 – via State of Connecticut.
  2. ^ "Constitution - Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut; Tribal Law Gateway, National Indian Law Library (NILL)". narf.org. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  3. ^ Mohegan Nation (Connecticut) Land Claim Settlement Act, Pub. L. No. 103-377, § 2, 108 Stat. 3501 (1994) (codified at 25 U.S.C. § 1775 (2006))
  4. ^ Press, The A. "Mohegan Tribe Investing in Other Tribes' Casinos Mohegan Tribe Looks to Capitalize on Success." Journal Inquirer (Manchester, CT), 2004.