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Building Brothertown: March 13, 1773 – March 13, 2023

Used with permission from A Brothertown Citizen read the complete blog here…

250 years ago today, on March 13, 1773, our ancestors gathered in Mohegan to discuss plans to form their own Native town, away from the decimating and demoralizing influence of the Europeans. Joseph Johnson (Mohegan/Brothertown), “the first mover of this design”1, called the Indians of Mohegan, Montauk, Narragansett, Niantic, Farmington, Stonington, and Groton together.

It was decided to ask the Oneida, our northwestern brethren, for a tract of land upon which we and our children could live in peace. Then, as now, our Oneida brothers welcomed us. In 1774, a land agreement was signed.

In March and April of 1775, the ablest individuals left their homes in Farmington, Montauk, and Narragansett, and went on ahead to forge the new town. They built homes and planted corn. Among them were Joseph Johnson, Elijah Wampy (Tunxis/Brothertown), David Fowler (Montauk/Brothertown) and Samuel Niles (Narragansett/Brothertown)². More people followed.

A couple of years later, forced to flee for their lives amidst the dangers of the Revolutionary War, the majority of our people found temporary shelter with the Stockbridge in Massachusetts. After seven years, when the fighting had ceased, we returned to our Oneida home, bringing our Stockbridge brethren with us. Since then, our two tribes have been inseparable.

Shortly after their return, through the help and pen of Reverend Samson Occom (Mohegan/Brothertown), our formal naming and founding was memorialized. On Monday, November 7, 1785 Occom wrote in his journal, “But now we proceeded to form into a body politick, we named our Town by the Name of Brotherton, in Indian Eeyawquittoowauconnuck.”

For a more in-depth look at the formation of the Brothertown Indians, please see “Building Brothertown:  From Farmington To Brotherton” at https://brothertowncitizen.files.wordpress.com/2022/12/tunxis-project-final-draft-122922.pdf or find the video presentation at the bottom of this page:  https://brothertowncitizen.com/stories-of-the-brothertown-indians-podcast-episodes/

Used with permission from A Brothertown Citizen read the complete blog here…

To research more on the Brothertown Indian Nation, use this link to access all their extensive historical and ancestral information…

Be sure to tune in to the State of the Tribes address next Tuesday, March 14, which will be delivered by Robert VanZile Jr., Chairman of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community Mole Lake Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.

The State of the Tribes address will be held Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at 1:00 pm in the Assembly Chambers of the Wisconsin State Capitol. 

The Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council, Inc. (GLITC) has announced that Chairman Robert Van Zile of the Sokaogon Chippewa Community will provide the 2023 address. The State of the Tribes address is open to the public and will be livestreamed on WisconsinEye (https://wiseye.org/) and Wisconsin Public Radio (https://wpr.org/).

The May 2023 Tribal election is fast approaching! This year, the Secretary position, two Council seats, and a Peacemaker position are on the ballot. Per the Tribe’s constitution, the Elections Committee will provide a report at the March Council meeting, identifying nominees. Nominations may also be taken from the floor at that meeting.

If you would like to learn more or express interest, you can contact Shaun Nadolny at shaunnadolny@hotmail.com. The March Council meeting will take place on Saturday, March 18th at 10am at the BINCC.

The Free Congregation of Sauk County will host its Free Thought Forum featuring Dr. Renee Gralewicz, Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women outreach coordinator, on March 19 read the full announcent with time and location details here….

April 4 race for open seat on state Supreme Court likely to sway court’s ideology

FRANK VAISVILAS Green Bay Press-Gazette

Although most laws in Indian Country are determined by tribal and federal courts, voting advocates are trying to inform Native voters about the importance of the April 4 Wisconsin Supreme Court election.

Indigenous analysts estimate about 71,000 Native voters are in Wisconsin and the race for the open seat on the Supreme Court between Janet Protasiewicz and Daniel Kelly will likely sway the ideology of the seven-justice court.

Native Americans were not granted the right to vote in the U.S. until 1924.Allison Neswood, who is Navajo and a staff attorney for the Native American Rights Fund, went on to say ” state laws still made it difficult — or impossible — for Indigenous people to vote in many places until the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Read the entire article on the FDL Reporter here..

We are grateful for this recent snow!  Because of this, the 2^nd Annual Snow Snake Event is a go!  Please join us Saturday, February 25, 2023 at Old Indian Point on Lake Poygan!

Rebecca Pelky: Following her accolades and success of her 2021 book, “Through a Red Place” (winner of the Perugia Press Prize), this January, Clarkson’s Rebecca Pelky receives the National Endowment for the Arts Creative Writing Fellowship.

“The National Endowment for the Arts is proud to support this group of poets and provide them with the means to focus on their writing,” said the NEA’s Director of Literary Arts Amy Stolls. “Their poetry explodes with originality in form and content, offering powerful reflections on the pain and joy of our modern times.”

Learn more about Rebecca (who is a member of the Brothertown Indian Nation and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Humanities) and her new endowment enabling her to continue her work – available here….

Additionally, in 2022 she helped create the language section of the new website Brothertown website / Language with the help of fellow Brothertown Tribal Member Robert Tryon – many thanks go to them from our members, striving to learn our native languages from this very detailed resource.

Please contact Jessica Ryan to help with this event! Lots of volunteers needed for many things and a cool way to help show the community we are here!

Voluteers needed!

Saturday, Febrary 18, 2023 (9:00am – 4:00pm)

This event will be held at the Fond du Lac Fairgrounds

Click here for more information on the event. The Brothertown Indian Nation is taking a large role – Contact Jessica Ryan to help…

On Tuesday, January 3rd, Governor Evers was sworn in for his second term in office. Governor Evers continues to include the Brothertown Indian Nation as one of the 12 tribes in Wisconsin. Chairwoman Phyllis Tousey attended the ceremony.

2023 is the Tricentennial anniversary of Samson Occom’s birth

Possible options are being planned for this journey back in time, including visits to Mohegan, Narragansett, and Pequot. Plus a stop in Deansboro (Old Brothertown) NY.

Specific details to follow.  For any questions or input feel free to contact CalumetandCross@gmail.com.

***Update for member planning purposes: we are currently considering leaving the weekend of October 6th and returning Sunday the 15th.  

With the travel time from Wisconsin to the East Coast and back taking up 4 days, the anticipated trip will be a total of 9-10 days.   Please contact via email above if interested as we would like to get a general count for planning purposes. 

Regarding hotels and meals – they are not included (price will include transportation only) however, we are working on securing discounts for the group.

A once in a lifetime trip with the Brothertown Indian Nation Family to celebrate Samson Occom!

Samson Occom (1723-2023)