The Wangunks & Connecticut’s Indigenous Communities

Wednesday, September 13th at 7:00pm, at the Killingworth Firehouse. Lucianne Lavin presents part one of her series on Connecticut’s indigenous peoples. Connecticut’s indigenous communities have long, rich histories that extend back to when they shared Mother Earth with mastodons and other extinct animals. Ignored or themselves falsely labeled extinct by local 19th century town histories, the story of their evolution into complex tribal societies with sophisticated social and political traditions had remained largely untold. This PowerPoint presentation introduces the audience to these vibrant American Indian cultures just before European contact, particularly the Wangunks, a populous, powerful tribe with extensive homelands on both sides of the Connecticut River Valley. It discusses indigenous relationships with white colonists, the great changes in the physical and social landscapes engendered by colonialism, and how Native American communities adapted to their constantly changing world. Please register in advance at the library.
This program has been made available by a grant from the Killingworth Foundation.