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Mohegan Tribe Appoints New Medicine Woman, Nonner, and Sagamores
Mohegan Nation (May 20, 2008) – The Mohegan Tribe has bestowed honorary titles on several distinguished citizens of the Mohegan Nation. The titles are effective immediately, and reflect centuries-old traditions within the Tribe which has been an active part of the society of southeastern Connecticut since the 17th Century.
Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel has been named Medicine Woman. She follows in the footsteps of her mentor, her great-aunt Gladys Tantaquidgeon, who was the Tribe’s Medicine Woman until her passing in 2005 at the age of 106. Zobel received extensive knowledge of Mohegan history, culture, and artifacts from Gladys Tantaquidgeon, and worked with her at The Tantaquidgeon Museum during her childhood. The Tantaquidgeon Museum – the United States’ oldest Native-owned and operated museum – recently re-opened for the season in a new renovated structure, and Zobel remains very actively involved. In making the appointment, the Council of Elders noted that in her post as Medicine Woman, Zobel is “preserving the spiritual, physical and emotional health of individual Tribal members.”
Five members of the Mohegan Tribe have been newly named to the venerated positions of Nonner (female) and Sagamore (male). In making the appointments, the Tribe’s Council of Elders defined Nonners and Sagamores as those who have “a record of outstanding service to the Tribe… and (are) qualified to represent the Tribe with dignity.” Current Nonners within the Tribe are Pauline Brown, Catherine Lamphere, and Olive (Holly) Picozzi; Nonners Roberta Cooney and Virginia Damon have passed away. Sagamore Donell (Rocky) Hamilton has also passed away.
Nonner Loretta Roberge is a long-time advocate for the Tribe’s federal recognition and overseer of the Tribe’s sacred burial grounds at Fort Shantok. She was a member of the Mohegan Tribal
Council prior to the federal recognition, and in that capacity she compiled and maintained records that proved crucial to those efforts.
Sagamore Courtland Fowler, another long-time advocate for federal recognition, is known for his unswerving dedication and hard work in research and historic preservation. He represented the Tribe in dealings with federal, state, and local governments and also served on the Burial Committee.
Sagamore David Fowler, the son of Courtland Fowler, was the first planner for the Mohegan Tribe, and is now the head of the Historic Land Preservation Program. During his childhood, David Fowler was deeply involved with the Tribe, and in 1967 he presented Governor Dempsey with a copy of biography of Uncas during the dedication of the Mohegan-Pequot Bridge.
Sagamore Laurence “Red Moon” Schultz, the grandson of Chief Matahga, is a former member of the Tribe’s Council of Elders. He faithfully represented the Tribe at many parades and functions throughout the decades, and taught historic drumming and dances to Tribal youth. In the early days of Mohegan Sun, he helped to oversee the casino’s sterling maintenance and cleanliness.
Sagamore Bruce R. Watt has been involved since childhood in the civic life of the Tribe, volunteering at the Tantaquidgeon Museum and at the annual Wigwam Festival. In the 1990s, he took on the role of Uncas in a film made about the history of Indian Leap in Norwich. Watt also discovered an archeological find under the Mohegan church of ancient corn cobs, corn matting, shells and pottery.
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