Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Holds Annual Inauguration Ceremony

(Mashantucket, Conn): The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) held its annual Inauguration Ceremony this morning at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, officially commencing the return to office for Chairman Rodney A. Butler and re-elected officials, Councilors Daniel Menihan, Jr., Michele Scott and Elders Council Secretary / Treasurer-Elect Toni Hall-Hillyer. Three Youth Council members were also sworn in today, including Chairman-Elect David Smith Sebastian, Vice Chairwoman-Elect Shyann Mckeon and Secretary-Elect Jyaida Colebut. Today’s event was closed to the public. Each elected official will serve a three-year term of office.

Chairman Rodney A. Butler, who has served as the Tribal Council Chairman since 2010, continues to lead with vision and dedication. Over the years, he has been instrumental in driving economic growth, fostering community development, and securing key legislative advancements such as the legalization of sports betting and iGaming in Connecticut. Chairman Butler has also overseen significant expansions at Foxwoods Resort Casino and the establishment of the Mashantucket (Western) Pequot Tribe Endowment Trust, ensuring long-term financial stability for the Tribe. His extensive involvement in national advocacy and board leadership, coupled with his commitment to preserving Tribal sovereignty, highlights his unwavering dedication to advancing the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation on both regional and national stages.

Councilor Daniel Menihan, Jr., now serving his fourth term, contributes experience in business management, cultural preservation, and community development. As chair of the Parks & Recreation and Historical & Cultural Preservation Committees, he fosters initiatives that celebrate Pequot traditions and strengthen community ties. Councilor Menihan has been a lifelong advocate for youth engagement, co-founding The Rising Spirit, a youth action group that bridges generational gaps and strengthens relationships within the Tribal community. A passionate educator of traditional agricultural methods, he spearheaded the cultivation of the gardens at the Child Development Center to promote cultural knowledge and food sovereignty. His professional background, which includes roles at Foxwoods Resort Casino and leadership in Tribal government, reflects a strong commitment to cost-saving initiatives, cultural education, and community enrichment.
Councilor Michele Scott is serving her second term on Tribal Council and brings a wealth of expertise in health, economic development, and community advocacy. Councilor Scott chairs the Tribe’s Economic Development and Health & Human Services Committees and has been a driving force behind initiatives that support healthcare access, minority health, and federal contracting opportunities for the Tribe. Her leadership extends to national platforms, including the National Institutes of Health’s Tribal Advisory Committee and the Office of Minority Health’s Advisory Committee on Minority Health. A recipient of multiple accolades, including the Native American 40 Under 40 Award, Councilor Scott’s work exemplifies her deep commitment to enhancing quality of life for Tribal citizens and the broader community.

Secretary/Treasurer Toni Hall-Hillyer (Nutahsoomapôk Nupee – “Calm Water”) brings decades of service and leadership to her second term on the Mashantucket Pequot Elders Council. With an extensive career spanning various roles within the Tribe, including education, operations, and compliance, Toni has consistently championed initiatives that promote the Tribe’s cultural preservation, community wellbeing, and sovereignty. Her years of volunteer service on numerous Tribal committees and programs reflect her deep dedication to empowering and advocating for her people, guided by a commitment to truth, love, humility, respect, honesty, wisdom, and courage.

About the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe located in southeastern Connecticut. As pioneers of the Indian casino gaming industry, the history of the Mashantucket Pequots reveals one of American’s greatest come-back stories which is featured at the world-renowned Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center. Today, the Tribe owns and operates one of the largest gaming resorts in North America, Foxwoods Resort Casino, along with a variety of complementary business enterprises, including Connecticut’s premiere luxury golf experience, Lake of the Isles and the decadent Spa at Norwich Inn. The Tribe’s health and wellness company, Pequot Health Care, is an industry leader in tribal and commercial health plan management and pharmaceutical services. As one of the highest revenue contributors and largest employers in Connecticut, the Mashantucket Pequots have hosted millions of visitors and provided billions in slot revenue payments to the State. The Tribe has also contributed millions in donations and sponsorships to support worthy charities, community events and programs, and other tribes in need, locally and throughout the United States. Dedicated to our future generations inheriting clean beautiful land, a safe community and a strong economy, we remain committed to promoting spirituality, strong family values, education, social stability, economic independence, and the wellbeing of our Tribal Members, employees and guests in a healthy and supportive environment. Our ultimate goal is to protect and advance our sovereign rights in order to build and preserve a cultural, social and economic foundation that can never be undermined or destroyed.
To learn more about the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, please visit us at www.mptn-nsn.gov.