Wunnegen Mehquontamuonk, meaning “A Good Memory” in the Nipmuck language, was created by artists Sierra Henries (Nipmuck), Jeremy Dennis (Shinnecock), and Inkpa Mani Lara-Ruiz (Masea Mexica–Tarahumara). It continues the Indigenous tradition of stone memory piles used to honor the memories and deeds of ancestors. The installation features stones collected from the Yale Divinity School grounds, thoughtfully arranged to integrate symbols of remembrance, connection, and survival while acknowledging the pain of history, Indigenous resilience, and the vibrancy and strength of Indigenous cultures today.
By honoring the local Indigenous peoples (Mohegan, Mashantucket Pequot, Quinnipiac, and other Algonquian-speaking peoples) as the original stewards of this land, Wunnegen Mehquontamuonk gives visibility to those who cared for this land long before the arrival of people from the European and African continents. The Memory Pile serves as a tangible and artistic reminder of the importance of justice and reconciliation. It points to the ethical imperative to confront our historical injustices, honor the original caretakers of the land, and build a future rooted in respect and equity for our human and more-than-human kin.
Requisite Petals: Beauty, Equity, Health & Happiness
Land Acknowledgement
Yale University acknowledges that indigenous peoples and nations, including Mohegan,Mashantucket Pequot, Eastern Pequot, Schaghticoke, Golden Hill Paugussett, Niantic, and the Quinnipiac and other Algonquian speaking peoples, have stewarded through generations the lands and waterways of what is now the state of Connecticut. We honor and respect the enduring relationship that exists between these peoples and nations and this land.
The Divinity School recognizes the role that Christianity played in colonization movements and repudiates the use of Christianity (or any other religion) for the purposes of oppression. We encourage all to work for justice in the aftermath of colonization and to reject racism and anti-Indigenous attitudes in all forms.
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