MCC Opens Native American Heritage Month with Award Presentation to Tribal Chief

MANCHESTER, Conn. (October 24, 2018) – Mohegan Tribal Chief Many Hearts, of Niantic, also known as Lynn Malerba, became the first woman chief in the tribe’s modern history on August 15, 2010. She will be honored not only for her work as chief of the tribe but also for her service to the larger community at MCC’s Native American Heritage Month Opening Ceremony on Monday, November 5, from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.

The Mohegan tribal chief serves a lifetime appointment by the tribe’s Council of Elders.  Many Hearts served as chairwoman of the Tribal Council, and was the tribe’s Executive Director of Health and Human Services.  She is chairwoman of the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee of the Federal Indian Health Service (IHS), a member of the Justice Department’s Tribal Nations Leadership Council, a member of the Tribal Advisory Committee for the National Institutes of Health and a member of the Treasury Tribal Advisory Committee.  She serves as the United South and Eastern Tribes Board of Directors Secretary and is also a member of the Board of Directors for the Ms. Foundation for Women.

Before serving in the tribal government, she had a lengthy career as a registered nurse, ultimately as the Director of Cardiology and Pulmonary Services at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.   She holds a doctor of Nursing Practice degree from Yale University and was named a Jonas Scholar.  She also holds a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Connecticut, and she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of St. Joseph.

Locally she serves as a trustee for Chelsea Groton Bank, board member for the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut, advisory committee member for the Harvard University Native American Program and served on the board of directors for Lawrence + Memorial Hospital for 11 years.

Activities observing MCC’s Native American Heritage Month will continue at the college throughout November, including a guest lecture on November 15 by Loralee Dubeau, Native American ceremonialist who has been a trainer and teacher in commercial and spiritual practice for 30 years.