THE MOHEGAN TRIBE'S TANTAQUIDGEON MUSEUM

ON JUNE 17, 2008 ABOUT 75 PEOPLE CAME TO THE MOHEGAN TRIBE'S TANTAQUIDGEON MUSEUM, TO CELEBRATE ITS RENOVATIONS AND REOPENING.

THE MUSEUM WAS FIRST OPENED IN 1931, THE DREAM OF JOHN TANTAQUIDGEON, HIS SON CHIEF HAROLD AND DAUGHTER GLADYS, WHO LATER BECAME THE MEDICINE WOMAN OF THE MOHEGAN TRIBE.

OVER THE YEARS, VISITORS CAME LOCALLY FROM CONNECTICUT TO THE FAR REACHES OF THE WORLD. ARTIFACTS WERE COLLECTED FROM MOHEGAN FAMILIES PERSONAL COLLECTIONS AND FROM THINGS GLADYS BROUGHT BACK FROM OUT WEST AND OTHER PLACES. HAROLD ALSO MADE NATIVE AMERICAN PRODUCTS WITH HIS OWN HANDS. THE PLACE IS A GLIMPSE OF SOMEONE HAVING A DREAM AND MAKING IT HAPPEN. THE GIVING OF THEMSELVES WITHOUT LOOKING FOR REWARDS BUT THE PLEASURE AND EDUCATION THEY COULD GIVE TO OTHERS. IT WAS A VERY LOVING QUEST..

THE MOHEGAN TRIBE BOUGHT THE TANTAQUIDGEON HOUSE AND MUSEUM BUILDING RECENTLY AT A COST, WE WERE TOLD OF ABOUT TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE TRIBE PAID ABOUT ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND TO .RENOVIATE AND UPDATE THE MUSEUM BUILDING. THEY INSTALLED NEW WINDOWS, INTERIOR WIRING, ROOF, AIRCONDITIONING, HEAT, OUTSIDE LIGHTS, A BURGLAR ALARM. BUILT A NEW BATHROOM AND OTHER THINGS.

WE ARE NOW IN THE SECOND PHASE ON THE RENOVATION PROJECT, WHICH IS THE MAIN HOUSE. THE CONSTRUCTION CREW IS ALMOST DONE, THEY ARE NOW AT THE POINT WHERE THEY ARE REFINISHING THE FLOORS. THEY JACKED THE HOUSE UP TO FIX THE FOUNDATION, FIXED PLASTER WALLS AND PAINTED AND MANY OTHER THINGS.

THEY ARE NOW TALKING OF PUTTING A FIRE SUPRESSION SYSTEM TO BE INSTALLED IN THE MUSEUM.

IN THE MAIN HOUSE, THERE WILL BE OFFICES ON THE SECOND FLOOR. . ON THE FIRST FLOOR WILL BE A MUSEUM RESEARCH CENTER.

THE ARTIFACTS BELONG TO DECENDENTS OF GLADYS TANTAQUIDGEON. THERE IS A TANTAQUIDGEON MUSEUM BOARD COMPRISED OF MELLISA TANTAQUIDGEON ZOBEL, JAYNE FAWCETT, DAVID FOWLER,AND BETTY TURNER.

THE MUSEUM IS STAFFED BY TWO VERY DEDICATED WORKERS JASON LAVIGNE AND STACY DUFRESNE.

EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE: THE MOHEGAN WAY, SUMMER 2008 EDITION, IT STATES ON PAGE 3 THE DAY RECOGNIZES HISTORIC MUSEUM EDITORIAL:JUNE 21, 2008

"THE MUSEUM, WHICH GLADYS TANTAQUIDGEON AND HER BROTHER HAROLD OPENED IN THEIR BACKYARD, IS A TESTAMENT TO THE TRIBE'S DEEP ROOTS IN THE COMMUNITY AND LIFELONG DEDICATION TO TEACHING OTHERS ABOUT NATIVE PEOPLES. THAT TRIBAL MEMBERS RECOGNIZE IT AS THEIR MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING SAYS A LOT ABOUT THE MOHEGANS, WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY STAND FOR."

I THINK WE SHOULD NOT QUOTE THE DAY AS IF THEY KNOW WHAT WE THINK OR BELIEVE. I AGREE WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING IN THE STATEMENT EXCEPT I BELIEVE OUR MOST IMPORTANT BUILDING IS NOT THE TANTAQUIDGEON MUSEUM BUT THE MOHEGAN CHURCH WHICH IS THE ONLY PROPERTY THAT THE TRIBE STILL HAD LEFT WHEN IT RECEIVED FEDERAL RECOGNITION IN 1996. .