Chief Hockeo Roy, Sebastian (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation),
Chief Dean Stanton (Narragansett Indian Tribe),
Chairman Rodney Butler (Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation),
Chairwoman Katherine Sebastian Dring (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation). Photo taken in July 2018 on the historic reservation at the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation Pow Wow
I am the Daughter of Chief Hockeo, Running Deer, Sachem for Life of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, (EPTN) and Virginia Whatley Sebastian, Rose Basket, a Cherokee descendant. I am proud to be an Eastern Blanket Dance Champion and participate in tribal cultural ceremonies with Chief Hockeo. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a Juris Doctor Degree. I have worked in grant procurement, agency relations, and legal review of appeals to the US Court of Veterans Appeals.
I served on the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation Tribal Council from 1971 – 1973 when the tribe filed its letter of intent with the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to become a federally acknowledged tribe. I also worked with the federal recognition petition team when the tribe received its preliminary positive determination in 2000 and again when it received its positive final decision in 2002. I have also represented the tribe at Congressional and BIA federal recognition hearings.
While serving on the Tribal Council from 2000-2007 and 2012-2016 I spearheaded programs in natural resources, preventative health and historical and cultural preservation. I procured grants through the US Department of Health and Human Resources, Administration for Native Americans in federal status clarification, environmental regulatory enhancement and emergency services.
Since 2003 I have worked administratively in the collaborative Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation/ University of Massachusetts, Boston archaeology field school with Dr. Stephen Silliman on our historic EPTN reservation established in 1683.
I co-authored an article in the Journal of the World Archaeology. “Authoring and Authority in Eastern Pequot Community Heritage and Archaeology”; Amerind Studies in Archaeology, Collaborating at the Trowel’s Edge, “Working on Pasts for Futures: Eastern Pequot Field School Archaeology in Connecticut.” Co-Presenter at Society for American Archaeology, 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, B.C. Canada March 2017.
I have served as Tribal Chairwoman since 2015 and am working with the Tribe on reservation development and regaining our federal recognition as the Historical Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.
I served on the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation Tribal Council from 1971 – 1973 when the tribe filed its letter of intent with the US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) to become a federally acknowledged tribe. I also worked with the federal recognition petition team when the tribe received its preliminary positive determination in 2000 and again when it received its positive final decision in 2002. I have also represented the tribe at Congressional and BIA federal recognition hearings.
While serving on the Tribal Council from 2000-2007 and 2012-2016 I spearheaded programs in natural resources, preventative health and historical and cultural preservation. I procured grants through the US Department of Health and Human Resources, Administration for Native Americans in federal status clarification, environmental regulatory enhancement and emergency services.
Since 2003 I have worked administratively in the collaborative Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation/ University of Massachusetts, Boston archaeology field school with Dr. Stephen Silliman on our historic EPTN reservation established in 1683.
I co-authored an article in the Journal of the World Archaeology. “Authoring and Authority in Eastern Pequot Community Heritage and Archaeology”; Amerind Studies in Archaeology, Collaborating at the Trowel’s Edge, “Working on Pasts for Futures: Eastern Pequot Field School Archaeology in Connecticut.” Co-Presenter at Society for American Archaeology, 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, B.C. Canada March 2017.
I have served as Tribal Chairwoman since 2015 and am working with the Tribe on reservation development and regaining our federal recognition as the Historical Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.
