Mashantucket Pequot Tribe Plans To Construct Health Center

MASHANTUCKET, CT — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation plans to build a new 21,000-square-foot health center in partnership with Hartford HealthCare.

The facility will include two connected components: Tribal Health Services, which will serve members of federally recognized tribes, and a Hartford HealthCare clinic that will be open to the public. The center is intended to expand access to health care for tribal members and the surrounding community.

“This project is about more than bricks and mortar; it is about reclaiming our health future,” Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, said in a statement. “We are proud to create a space that combines modern medical care with cultural affirmation, one that serves not only Tribal citizens, but our neighbors throughout Southeastern Connecticut. True wellness comes when the entire community has access to the care and support they need.”

The design will incorporate elements rooted in tribal traditions, including natural landscaping with native plantings, water features and symbolic references such as the Whale’s Tail and Turtle Island. In addition to clinical services, the building will include spaces for community gatherings.

“This health facility reflects the vision, land, and investment of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation,” Tribal Councilor Michele Scott said in a statement.

The center will be located between the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center and the reservation’s public safety building.

A groundbreaking is planned for the spring. Further details are expected to be shared at tribal meetings and information sessions.