Local Tribes
Tunxis
The Tunxis tribe, also known as Tunxis Sepus, means 'land at the bend of the little river.'1 The Tunxis tribe originally settled along the Farmington River and sold their agricultural fields to the Connecticut Colony in 1640 but retained a portion of land known as 'Indian Neck.'2 Over time, as encroachment by English colonists increased and their population dwindled, the Tunxis sold their remaining lands in 1774 to relocate to the Brothertown settlement in New York, with only a few members remaining in their original territory.1 Now, the Tunxis tribe no longer exists as a recognized tribe.
Pequot
The Pequots, which is derived from the Algonquin word 'pekawatawog' or 'pequttoog,' meaning 'Destroyers.'3 The Pequot lived in heavily fortified villages of longhouses or in temporary shelters of wigwams during the summer hunting season. They lived in what is now New London County in Connecticut.4 The Pequot tribe's conflict with the Connecticut Colony escalated in 1636 after the killing of John Oldham, leading to the Pequot War, which resulted in only around 200 Pequot survivors out of the 3,000 that lived in the area.5 By the 19th century, the Pequot population had dwindled significantly, but efforts for recognition and land claims in the 1970s and 1980s culminated in federal recognition for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe in 1983, allowing them to establish the successful Foxwoods Resort Casino.6 The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation received recognition in 2002 but faced challenges and revocation of that status in 2005 due to tensions over racial issues and concerns about potential gaming operations.7
Mohegan
The Mohegan were part of the Pequot Tribe, living in present-day south central New England and relying on agriculture, particularly the cultivation of the Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash.8 During the early 1600s, tensions arose between the Pequot and Mohegan tribes, leading to a split when Uncas, the Mohegan leader, chose to ally with English colonists rather than confront them.9 This alliance played a crucial role in the defeat of the Pequot during the Pequot War from 1637 to 1638, significantly altering the power dynamics among the tribes in the region.9 The tribe, led by an elected Tribal Council and a Council of Elders, gained federal recognition in 1994 and opened the Mohegan Sun casino in 1996, establishing a successful gaming compact with the state of Connecticut that has generated significant revenue for both the tribe and the state.10
Podunk
Podunk is of Algonquian origin, which means 'where you sink in mire.'11 The Podunk tribe, initially maintaining a peaceful relationship with English colonists in the Connecticut River valley, faced increasing restrictions and hostilities, particularly after the outbreak of conflicts with neighboring tribes and the English.11 Following their involvement in King Philip's War, which resulted in significant loss of life, the surviving Podunk dispersed and merged with other tribes, while English colonists claimed their former lands.12
Sources
1 “Library: The Tunxis People: Home.” 2025. Ctstate.edu. 2025. https://library.ctstate.edu/TunxisPeople.
2 “Common Unities: Possession, Dispossession, & Community in Tunxis Land Records, 1640-1841 | Native Northeast Portal.” 2024. Nativenortheastportal.com. 2024. https://nativenortheastportal.com/collection/common-unities-possession-dispossession-community-tunxis-land-records-1640-1841.
3 “Pequot Tribe: Facts, Clothes, Food and History ***.” n.d. Www.warpaths2peacepipes.com. https://www.warpaths2peacepipes.com/indian-tribes/pequot-tribe.htm.
4 “History of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.” 2016. CT.gov - Connecticut’s Official State Website. 2016. https://portal.ct.gov/sde/publications/teaching-native-american-studies/eastern-pequot-tribal-nation/eptn-history.
5 Mark, Joshua. 2021. “Pequot War.” World History Encyclopedia. March 16, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/Pequot_War/.
6 “History - Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.” 2024. Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. August 7, 2024. https://www.mptn-nsn.gov/history/.
7 Martin, Amy. n.d. “This Hard Land.” Connecticut College. https://www.conncoll.edu/news/cc-magazine/past-issues/2020-issues/winter-2020/this-hard-land/.
8 Yost, Author Russell. 2018. “Mohegan Tribe Facts and History.” The History Junkie. January 23, 2018. https://thehistoryjunkie.com/mohegan-tribe-facts/.
9 Editor. 2010. “The Pequot War: A Forgotten Conflict in Colonial America.” Our History. I Rise UK. May 7, 2010. https://www.ourhistory.org.uk/the-pequot-war-a-forgotten-conflict-in-colonial-america/.
10 “Governor Lowell P. Weicker, Jr.” n.d. Mohegan.nsn.us. https://www.mohegan.nsn.us/about/government/tribal-sovereignty/federal-recognition.
11 “Native Americans of Quinnehtukqut - QUINNEHTUKQUT NIPMUC NEWS from the Nipmuc Indian Association of Connecticut.” 2025. Nativetech.org. 2025. https://nativetech.org/Nipmuc/news/historicalsketch.html.
12 “Wars with Native Americans: Pequot and King Philip’s War | United States History I.” n.d. Courses.lumenlearning.com. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/wm-ushistory1/chapter/wars-with-native-americans-pequot-and-king-philips-war/.