The Mohegan Indians are located in the southeastern part of Connecticut near the Thames River valley in Uncasville, with a current population of approximately 1,000 members . All members are of Native American descent and were formerly associated with the Pequot tribe. “Scientific evidence shows Native American presence in the area for 10,000 years, but oral history begins at the beginning, when the Great Spirit created the earth” (http://moheganindians.weebly.com/). The first group of Mohegans were part of the Delaware tribe called the Wolf Clan in upstate New York. The indigenous languages ​​of the Mohegan Indians are English and they also have their own Mohegan dialect, called the "Algonquin dialect". In this indigenous language, the name Mohegan means "people of the wolf", which fits the tribe perfectly because they were once a heterogeneous group in which men went to war to protect their tribes and also went hunting to save money. food on their families’ tables. while women stayed at home to look after the children and were horticulturists as they worked in the fields every day. Each individual played a major role in maintaining the tribe as a functional unit. The Mohegan Indians are also well known for their successful casino called Mohegan Sun, located in Uncasville, Connecticut, near their tribal home. They still practice their ceremonies and wear animal skins and leather. They have their own governing structure which they call a tribal council, made up of nine tribal members and a council of elders made up of seven tribal members. Many factors have shaped this community into what it is today, particularly its separation from the Pequot tribe. The Moh...... middle of paper ... persecuted and driven from a land that has been passed down from generation to generation. This was motivated by the American belief in manifest destiny that they had the right to remove people from their land to make way for the American culture and way of life. The Mohegan, however, understood the importance of tradition and worked to preserve their identity and culture. This is not to say that the tribe is completely isolated from the rest of the world or local communities; much of the wealth today comes from tourists visiting the reservations and local businesses run by the Mohegan tribe. Today, many of their traditions and way of life are deeply rooted in their past, but have adapted to reflect the needs and beliefs of today's society. Their constant perseverance and unwavering protection of their identity have allowed the Mohegan to stand the test of time like the first Americans..