Gladys Tantaquidgeon was born in Uncasville, Ct. on June 15, 1899 to parents of Mohegan heritage. She was a descendant of the famous 17th-century Mohegan Sachem, Uncas. Gladys was trained from an early age in herbalism and tribal spirituality and went on to dedicating her life to preserving the beliefs, customs, and traditions of Native Americans throughout America.
In 1931, she, along with her brother and father, founded the Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum in Uncasville. This is the oldest Native American owned and operated museum in the country. In 1934, Gladys worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs for more than ten years, promoting Native American artwork and centuries-old customs that had been banned by the federal government. She was essential in the work of gaining federal recognition to the Mohegan Tribe in 1994.
The following is a list of Gladys Tantaquidgeon’s, also known as the Mohegan Medicine Woman, accomplishments:
- Pursued Ivy League education as a non-white woman, 1920s
- Co-founded Tantaquidgeon Museum
- Fought for civil rights in the 1930s
- Social work for the Bureau of Indian Affairs
- Economic development work for the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, late 1930s and 1940s
- Worked at Niantic Women’s prison as a librarian in 1940s
- Provided free community education about Indian lifestyles 1960s-1990s
- Ensured friendly relations with the town of Montville and all of Connecticut
- Preserved traditional Mohegan spirituality
- Worked to preserve the environment
- Documented traditional Native herbal remedies
- Preserved traditional Native ceremonies and artforms
- Preserved the meaning of traditional Mohegan symbols
- Recorded and shared old Native American stories
She and her brother believed education was the best cure for prejudice, "You can't hate someone that you know a lot about."
Gladys passed away on November 1, 2005.