Today, we recognize the deep roots and ongoing contributions of Indigenous communities in Connecticut. For more than 12,000 years, this land has been home to vibrant Native nations, including the Pequot, Mohegan, Paugussett, Schaghticoke, Quinnipiac, and many others, who have lived in relationship with the land, waters, and ecosystems of this region since time immemorial.
These communities have not only shaped the history of Connecticut but continue to enrich its cultural, social, and civic life today. Their languages, traditions, and stories carry enduring wisdom, and their advocacy for land stewardship, education, and justice remain vital to our shared future.
Waterbury Public Schools will be closed on Monday in observance of this important holiday. We encourage our community to take time to learn, reflect, and honor the original stewards of this land.In that spirit, I invite you to join me and Rep. Christopher Rosario for a press conference highlighting H.R. 10, the Connecticut House Resolution we proudly introduced to make Connecticut the first state in the U.S. to formally recognize and preserve the culture and heritage of Taíno descendants.
Though Indigenous to the Caribbean, the Taíno people are an integral part of our state’s rich cultural fabric. Their history and contributions remind us that Indigenous heritage deserves acknowledgment wherever it lives on.
This event leads into the fourth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Closing & Taíno Remembrance Day, hosted by the Afro-Caribbean Cultural Center on Wednesday, October 15 at 10:00 a.m. at the Silas Bronson Library. We encourage all members of our community to take part in this celebration.
