Customer Reviews

Uncas: First of the Mohegans

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Masquerading as a review of this fine and useful volume, the North Stonington contributor (above, or perhaps below) displays vast ignorance of not only the subject matter of "Uncas: First of the Mohegans" by Michael Leroy Oberg but also of national and world history as well. To gainsay his non-review tirade, this reviewer wishes to commend to other readers an opportunity to learn of the enormous complexity that occurs when contrasting and competing cultures meet and far too often clash, such as we are witnessing in our own day. The relationships that develop rarely serve either culture as long as Santanyana's warning goes unheeded. That modern day Mohegans even exist is itself a miracle: that the colonial European mentality of greed and resentment still abides in at least one North Stonington heart is dismaying, to say the least.
"Uncas" deserves a proper reading unsullied by prejudice.

The book did a good job of explaining Uncas's actions as the work of a political leader who was skillful at maintaining the independence of his people (at the expense of other Indian groups, often) by working with or against the English settlers, whichever was most useful to the Mohegans at the time.

This book is a must for those who want to understand the history of Connecticut.

The overwhelming evidence Mr. Oberg presents of how the southern New England tribes repeatedly had to ask permission of the English before they could seek revenge against another tribe leads me to believe that these groups were not considered sovereign at that time at all.
It appeared that much of the tribes' time was taken up with going to Hartford or Boston to meet with the English leaders and ask for something. If they were sovereign nations that wouldn't have been necessary. This is heavily documented with footnotes as to sources.
Plus, he shows ample evidence that the Pequot War at Mystic was not the "white guys bash Indians" situation it is often portrayed as but was an extension of squabbles between the Pequots and the Mohegan and Narragansett tribes prior to the arrival of the English . Uncas egged on the English to attack his enemies.
So why do we grant federal recognition to their descendants today?
Mr. Oberg's book should be read by all Congressmen who are faced with granting federal recognition to "tribes". Perhaps the relation of other colonists to other tribes was similar and they were not considered nations either. Perhaps this reading of history will counter the 1970's mythical rewrite of Indian history too many are enamored of.