Samson Occom: Indigenous Sovereignty in Revolutionary Connecticut

In an age of political upheaval, Samson Occom (1723-1792) helped chart a new course for the Native communities of the Northeast. Occom grew up a Mohegan immersed in his people’s traditional lifeways, and worked to reinvent those lifeways in a world transformed by colonialism. Occom rose to international fame advocating for Mohegan interests, and eventually helped found a new Indigenous nation called Brothertown, which (like Mohegan) continues to thrive today. Occom was inspired by the American religion but believed Native peoples had to forge their own paths toward freedom: “Indians,” he said, “are neither Whigs nor Tories.” Discover his compelling story and social impact with author Ryan Carr.

About Our Speaker: Ryan Carr is a lecturer in English, American Studies, and the Core Curriculum at Columbia University. He has published widely in the fields of American literature and religious studies. His first book, Samson Occom: Radical Hospitality in the Native Northeast, was published in 2023 by Columbia University Press.

Tickets
$15 General Admission
$10 Members
Free for Connecticut Museum NARM members and above

Questions? Contact Natalie Belanger, Public Programs Manager, at nbelanger@connecticutmuseum.org.

Accessibility Notice: The wheelchair lift connecting our auditorium wing to our main building is currently out of order. Please call the front desk at 860-236-5621 for accessibility arrangements or any questions during this time. To access the Tavern Signs exhibition and Auditorium, use the entrance to the Auditorium Lobby, which is located to the left of the main entrance. For access to the main building, please call the front desk and staff will be available to assist you in entering through the courtyard.