[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 163 (Saturday, December 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2560-E2561]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO GLADYS TANTAQUIDGEON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ROB SIMMONS

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, December 15, 2005

  Mr. SIMMONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the achievements 
of Gladys Tantaquidgeon, whose life's work greatly enhanced the Mohegan 
Tribe of Connecticut.
  On November 1, the woman who was rightly known as the ``keeper of the 
Mohegan culture'' died at the age of 106. Gladys Tantaquidgeon was a 
woman of uncommon integrity and cheerful determination. Throughout her 
life she devoted her skills, talents and knowledge to the revival of 
the Mohegan Tribe and countless lives have been enriched by her 
steadfastness.
  Gladys Tantaquidgeon was an anthropologist and ethnobotanist. She 
wrote extensively about Native Americans and her knowledge was wide-
ranging. She played a key role in establishing the Mohegan tribal 
museum. Her flawless record-keeping and her encyclopedic knowledge of 
the history of her tribe were instrumental in helping the Mohegans win 
Federal recognition in 1994.
  In the Hartford Courant, Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, Gladys's 
grandniece, pointed out that much of the artwork in the tribe's Mohegan 
Sun Casino, in Montville, was inspired by the collection of the 
``keeper of Mohegan culture.'' Ms. Zobel recently remarked, ``We all 
have to wonder, would we be where we are today without her? She was an 
image from another world. It would be dishonorable not to celebrate her 
passing.''

  The Mohegan Tribe today is successful by any measure and they most 
certainly would not be where they are today without the perseverance 
and stamina of this incredible woman. Supported in no small measure by 
her work, the tribe has preserved its heritage and history and has 
created economic security for the future.
  The Mohegan Sun Casino has created jobs throughout the region, has 
provided economic assistance to its host community and works with 
vendors throughout the State.
  And while the tribe and the entire region mourns her death, we surely 
celebrate the extraordinary life of this great woman who was a 
descendent of Uncas, the famous Mohegan chief.
  She demonstrated that the Mohegan's history is an integral and 
essential part of Connecticut's history. The Hartford Courant said it 
well, observing that Gladys Tantaquidgeon was ``the living link between 
past and present whose diligent record-keeping led to federal 
recognition for the Mohegans. They are now running one of the world's 
most lucrative casinos and are fabulously rich. It is telling that they 
are prouder of their heritage than their wildly successful business 
venture.''
  The Mohegan Tribe and the State of Connecticut are better off because 
of Gladys Tantaquidgeon. She did much more than enable her people to 
secure the recognition they deserved. She taught, by word and example, 
that our lives as Americans are deeply entwined and that history is not 
something that happened in the past. History is alive and even as it 
reminds us of who we were, it also reminds us of what we might become.

[[Page E2561]]

  Gladys Tantaquidgeon was an exceptional woman. The Mohegan Tribe and 
Connecticut are fortunate that for more than a century she was among 
us. She will be missed.

                          ____________________