The Mohegan were a Native American people who originally occupied most of the upper Thames River valley in present-day Connecticut. By allying themselves with the English, they became the most important tribe in southern New England in the late 17th century. The Mohegan were an Algonquian-speaking tribe.

Culture and society

The Mohegan lived in dome-shaped wigwams made of wood and birch bark. In Mohegan villages, the dwellings were arranged around a central open space. To keep intruders out, villages were surrounded with a high wall of upright wooden poles.

The Mohegan homeland was covered with forests, lakes, and rivers. The area was so rich with animals that hunters had little trouble finding prey. Mohegan men also fished, using light birch-bark canoes to travel the region's waterways. Women added to the food supply by farming. Their most important crop was corn (maize), but they also grew beans and squash.

The forests in the Mohegan's territory provided them with the materials they needed to build their houses. They played ball games and gathered items for religious ceremonies.

History

In the early 17th century, Europeans began arriving in New England. At that time, the Mohegan were under the control of Sassacus, a chief of the neighboring Pequot tribe. Under the leadership of Uncas, the Mohegan successfully rebelled against the Pequot and won their independence.

In 1637, English settlers waged a bloody war against the Pequot. Most of the survivors sought refuge among the Mohegan. With the near destruction of the Pequot tribe, the Mohegan were able to take over most of their lands. They grew even more powerful after the English nearly destroyed their Native American neighbors, including the Wampanoag and the Narraganset, in King Philip's War (1675-76).

By allying themselves with the English, the Mohegan were able to avoid the fate of those groups. Despite their actions, their population fell sharply, as many of the Mohegan began dying of European diseases such as smallpox and measles. The Mohegan were further threatened by English settlers who wanted their land. Turning on their former allies, the English slowly took over the Mohegan's once vast territory.

At the end of the 20th century, there were about 700 Mohegan in the United States. In 1994, the U.S. government officially recognized the Mohegan tribe. The Mohegan also settled a land dispute with Connecticut that dated from the 17th century. The tribe now has a 240-acre (97-hectare) reservation near the town of Uncasville, Connecticut.