How stories preserve the Mohegan way of life with Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel

Where We Live

How stories preserve the Mohegan way of life with Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel

By Chloe Wynne,

Published February 6, 2025 at 7:39 AM EST

Chief Many Hearts Dr. Lynn Malerba and Medicine Woman Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel (right) of the Mohegan Tribe drape a custom Mohegan Pendleton blanket over Dartmouth College President Philip J. Hanlon during a repatriation ceremony where handwritten papers of 18th century Mohegan scholar Samson Occom were returned to the Mohegan Tribe. — Chief Many Hearts Dr. Lynn Malerba and Medicine Woman Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel (right) drape a custom Mohegan Pendleton blanket over Dartmouth College President Philip J. Hanlon during a repatriation ceremony where handwritten papers of 18th century Mohegan scholar Samson Occom were returned to the Mohegan Tribe. Occom traveled to Europe in the 1760s to raise funds for a school in 海角换妻 for Native American students 鈥� but after he returned, he learned that the funds were instead diverted to founding to a school for white settlers that would later become Dartmouth. Dartmouth experts say the papers contain what is believed to be the earliest example of written Mohegan language.

The 鈥攁 sovereign and federally recognized Indian tribe in Southeastern 海角换妻鈥攈as a longstanding belief in the power of storytelling.

This oral tradition is a form of spoken record-keeping. Stories can often capture a deeper and fuller understanding of culture and beliefs than historical texts.

This hour, we talk to Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, the tribe鈥檚 vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian. Melissa is part of a long line of 鈥渃ulture bearers,鈥� tasked with keeping the traditions of the Mohegan Tribe alive through stories.

GUESTS:

, the Mohegan Tribe鈥檚 vice chair of the council of elders and tribal historian

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Where We Live

Chloe Wynne

Chloe Wynne is a producer for 'The Wheelhouse' and 'Where We Live.' She previously worked as a producer and reporter for the investigative podcast series, 'Admissible: Shreds of Evidence,' which was co-produced by VPM and Story Mechanics and distributed by iHeartRadio. She began her journalism career at inewsource, an investigative newsroom in San Diego, Calif., where she covered housing, education and crime. She earned her master鈥檚 degree from Columbia Journalism School in 2021, where she focused on audio storytelling.<br/>

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Catherine Shen

Catherine is the Host of 海角换妻鈥檚 morning talk show and podcast, Where We Live. Catherine and the WWL team focus on going beyond the headlines to bring in meaningful conversations that put 海角换妻 in context.

See stories by Catherine Shen