Eastern to host land-acknowledgement ceremony in honor of Native American Heritage Month

Willimantic, CT (11/13/2025) — In commemoration of Native American Heritage Month, Eastern Connecticut State University will host a Land Acknowledgement Ceremony on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m. The event will take place in the Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Room of the J. Eugene Smith Library.

During the ceremony, Eastern will formally present its official land acknowledgement statement recognizing the tribal ancestral lands on which the University stands. The statement honors the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, Mohegan Tribe, Nipmuc Tribe, and Schaghticoke Tribe, whose enduring presence and cultural heritage shape the history and identity of the eastern Connecticut region.

The ceremony will feature remarks from University and tribal representatives, including Beth Regan, chairwoman and justice of the Mohegan Tribal Council of Elders. The ceremony will also include song, dance, and food inspired by Indigenous traditions.

Additional speakers and a detailed program will be announced in the coming days.

Members of the media and the public are invited to attend this ceremony in recognition, reflection, and gratitude for the Indigenous peoples of Connecticut.

Event Details

Land Acknowledgement Ceremony

Wednesday, November 19, 2025 | 3:00 p.m.

Paul E. Johnson Sr. Community Room

J. Eugene Smith Library, Eastern Connecticut State University

This event is proudly hosted by the President's Division, including the President's Office, Office of Equity & Diversity, University Events & Engagement, and University Communications & Marketing.

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

Eastern Connecticut State University

Eastern to host land-acknowledgement ceremony in honor of Native American Heritage Month

Eastern Connecticut State University

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