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Wigwam Festival 2012 Celebrates Native American Heritage
The Mohegan Tribe celebrated Native American heritage in the summer of 2012 with its traditional Wigwam gathering. The ceremonies were held at Fort Shantok, the Tribe’s ancestral grounds on the banks of the Thames River in Uncasville, Connecticut on Saturday, August 18 and Sunday, August 19.
Wigwam has been an annual event since the late 1800s, when it was devised as the “Green Corn Festival.” It marked the late summer harvest, providing a way to reach out to the community and to support themselves through the sale of food and crafts. Those traditions continue to this day, and Wigwam is now marked by the contemporary members of the Tribe for the third weekend of each August.
The 2012 Wigwam honored the 150th anniversary of the birth of Chief Matagha. Born in 1862, Matagha (a.k.a. Burrill Fielding) served as Chief of the Tribe from 1937 until his death in 1952. He was instrumental in continuing the traditions of the Wigwam through the early and mid 20th century.
Each year, the Mohegan Wigwam brings not only members of the Mohegan Tribe together, but also becomes a way for the other tribes of the U.S., especially those located in the Northeast, to renew old ties and create new friendships. Many of the Native attendees come dressed in regalia, wearing clothing that featured eye-catching colors, designs, and constructed elements that demonstrate their heritage and carry on visual traditions.
This year’s event featured an array of Native American artisans and crafters, along with food vendors serving Native-inspired cuisine, from frybread to various fish and shellfish dishes inspired by the foodways of the Eastern Woodland tribes. The popular dance and music events also continued, with prizes given in dance competitions.
Wigwam is open each year to the general public, and the Mohegan Tribe takes great pride in welcoming non-Native residents and visitors to explore and enjoy an event that shows the Indian community at its best. The Tribe owes a special debt of gratitude to the many Mohegans who volunteered their time and labor to help make the event such a success.
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