Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel

Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel (MOHEGAN) was trained in Mohegan traditional knowledge by Medicine Woman Gladys Tantaquidgeon (1899-2005). She currently serves her tribal nation in the traditional roles of Medicine Woman and Tribal Historian, in addition to her job as Creative Media Liaison. Tantaquidgeon Zobel earned a History B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University, a History M.A. from the University of Connecticut, and a Creative Writing M.F.A. from Fairfield University. Her books include "Medicine Trail: The Life and Lessons of Gladys Tantaquidgeon" (University of Arizona Press, 2000), the murder mystery "Wabanaki Blues" (Poisoned Pen Press, 2015), and the femme fantasy "Snowy Strangeways" (Urban Farmhouse Press, 2018). Melissa is also an award-winning writer for stage and screen. The screenplay for Flying Bird’s Diary has won over twenty awards. The stage play version was a finalist in Eugene O’Neill Theatre’s 2020 National Playwright’s Conference. Her feature screenplay "Snowy Strangeways "and TV pilot "Snowy Strangeways: The Colors of Life" have won screenwriting awards, as has her TV Pilot "Wabanaki Blues: Messin' With the Kid." Melissa enjoys sharing the challenges, joys, humor and enduring philosophy of eastern woodlands' Native American people.