The proposed Senate Joint Resolution No. 16, introduced by Senator Osten, seeks to formally condemn the provisions of the Treaty of Hartford, which was established in 1638. This treaty, made between the English settlers in Connecticut and the Narragansett and Mohegan Tribes, aimed to eliminate the cultural identity of the Pequot Tribe. It included measures that prohibited the Pequots from returning to their ancestral lands, abolished their tribal name, and forced them to assimilate into other tribes. Additionally, it resulted in the enslavement or death of remaining Pequot members.

The resolution serves to acknowledge and denounce the historical injustices faced by the Pequot Tribe as a result of this treaty. By condemning these provisions, the Assembly aims to recognize the impact of such actions on the Pequot cultural identity and promote awareness of the historical context surrounding the treatment of Indigenous peoples in Connecticut.