The Stockbridge-Munsee Mohican Nation, a federally recognized Tribal Nation in Wisconsin with origins in the Hudson and Housatonic River Valleys, today announced the planned opening of a new exhibit on Mohican history and culture at the Mission House Museum in Stockbridge, MA.

The exhibit, Mohican Miles, was created through collaboration between the Stockbridge Munsee’s Cultural Affairs Department and The Trustees of Reservations. Opening to the public on July 2nd, 2021, the exhibit will be accessible to visitors during the hours of the Mission House museum from Thursday-Monday from 10AM to 4PM.

The exhibit covers a wide range of topics including an overview of Mohican history, the Tribe’s historic relationship with The Trustees, information about the community today, the work of the Historic Preservation Office in the homelands, and displays of historic objects belonging to the Tribe. “We are excited that we have a place to call ours to tell our history, our way. The history that Mohican Nation has in Stockbridge is significant and we are grateful to be able to tell it,” said Heather Bruegl, Cultural Affairs Director for Stockbridge-Munsee Community.

The Tribe curated and designed the exhibit from the archives of the Arvid E. Miller Memorial Library Museum, which houses the largest collection of Mohican documents and artifacts in the world. Trudy Fadding, of Stockbridge, through a fellowship at Williams College where the Tribe maintains a Tribal Historic Preservation Extension Office, worked locally with the Tribe’s office to develop the exhibit content.

As a result of an agreement with the Trustees, the Stockbridge-Munsee Community will maintain exhibit materials in the Carriage House, the separate exhibit room behind the Mission House, for the next 4 years. This space formerly held many objects belonging to the Mohican people which were purchased by Mabel Choate, the founder of the Mission House. Recently, many of these same objects have been repatriated back to the Tribe after nearly a century of separation.

Not only is the increasing relationship with The Trustees a significant aspect of this exhibition, the location of the exhibit on Main Street in Stockbridge is also incredibly important to the Tribe. It has been centuries since the Tribe has had such a physical presence on this very historic location in the homelands, where many Ancestors once walked, lived, led, and learned.

“As an organization, we are committed to the centering of Indigenous voices,” said Brian Cruey, Southern Berkshires Portfolio Director. “We’re so grateful to the Stockbridge-Munsee Community for engaging with us and allowing us the room to learn and grow on this journey.”

For further information on the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, please visit: www.mohican.com