Wangunk Tribe: Unearthing Their Story

About this event

Among Connecticut’s Indigenous nations, the Wangunk people played a pivotal yet often overlooked role in shaping the state’s history. Meaning “people at the bend in the river,” the Wangunk were a powerful Algonquian-speaking community who thrived along the Connecticut River from Hartford to Middletown long before Dutch and English settlement. By the 1630s, their influence and territorial reach surpassed that of any other tribe in the region, directly impacting the founding of Hartford.

Join us for an engaging multi-perspective presentation exploring Wangunk history, archaeology, and enduring contemporary culture:

• Archaeological Discoveries: Connecticut State Archaeologist Sarah Sportman will share recent excavations revealing new insights into Wangunk material history.

• Oral Tradition & Art: Wangunk Elder Gary Red Oak O’Neil will convey rich oral histories and connect them to his artistic practice.

• Colonial Interdependence: Environmental historian Tom Wickman will illuminate the interconnected nature of Wangunk villages at the dawn of English colonization.

Together, the speakers will trace this history into the present day, exploring how Wangunks continue to navigate power, land, and cultural preservation in modern Connecticut.

· When: Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1:30̶ 3:30 p.m.

· Host: President’s College Lifelong Learning, University of Hartford

· Register: Hartford.edu/pc

· Questions? Email pcollege@hartford.edu or call 860.768.4495.