Golden Hill Indian Culture and Governance

The Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe is a Native American tribe that has lived in what is now southwestern Connecticut for thousands of years, with the reservation being created in 1875. The tribe has a rich cultural heritage that includes music, dance, storytelling, and craftsmanship. More specifically, items of clothing and dress created by the tribes are traded amongst the reservation. An important aspect of the tribe's culture is their connection to the land through fishing, farming, and agriculture.

The Golden Hill Paugussett tribe believes that the land is sacred and they have a deep-rooted respect for the world they live in and believe in living in harmony with nature. The tribe also has a strong sense of community and family and often has celebrations in order to retain their heritage, such as reservation weddings, funerals, christenings, and gatherings called powwows. In more recent years, the tribe has been actively working to regain federal recognition, which would provide them with resources and opportunities to preserve and promote their culture. A major step in this process was the state of Connecticut reaffirming the 1876 “Act COncerning the Support of the Golden Hill Tribe of Indians”.