Mashantucket, Conn (January 2, 2026) — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation (MPTN) held its annual Inauguration Ceremony this morning at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center, officially commencing new terms of office for Treasurer-Elect Merrill M. M. Reels and newcomer Tribal Councilor-Elect Rahiem Eleazer, as well as Elders Council Chairwoman-Elect Marjorie Colebut-Jackson. Today’s event was closed to the public.
Today, Treasurer Merrill Reels began his fourth consecutive term of office. Treasurer Reels chairs the Tribe’s Finance and Public Safety Committees and previously chaired the Judicial Committee. Treasurer Reels holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to serving on Tribal Council, Mr. Reels was a table games dealer at Foxwoods Resort Casino, where he received multiple gaming certifications.
Councilor Rahiem Eleazer begins his first term of office today. Councilor Eleazer chairs the Tribe’s Natural Resources Protection and Judicial Committees. He holds an associate’s degree from Three Rivers Community College in Environmental Engineering and Technology and is working toward a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Conservation at Southern New Hampshire University. He also serves as Treasurer of the Alliance for the Mystic River Watershed’s Board of Directors and for the 4 Conservation Charitable Foundation. He is also the Environmental Justice Representative for the Connecticut Equity and Environmental Justice Advisory Council and serves as a member of the Avalonia Advisory Council. Prior to service on Tribal Council, Mr. Eleazer worked as the Tribe’s Environmental Liaison, where he coordinated Mashantucket’s environmental efforts while networking with external organizations, institutions and government agencies to pursue mutual interests and promote the Tribe’s environmental preservation agenda.
Elders Council Chairwoman Marjorie Colebut-Jackson was also sworn in for her third term of office, today. Chairwoman Colebut-Jackson previously served as Elders Council Vice Chairwoman, and also served on the Tribal Council from 2005-2016, during which time she served as Secretary from 2010 through 2016. During her Tribal Council tenure, Ms. Colebut-Jackson was appointed to serve as the MPTN’s representative on the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) Government-to-Government (G2G) Consultation Team to help develop a department-wide Tribal Consultation Policy. Prior to her Elders Council and Tribal Council service, Ms. Colebut-Jackson served as President of Pequot Pharmaceutical Network and chaired its Board of Directors. She also served as a Board Member for the Elderly Housing Development & Operations Corporation (EHDOC) and Futures for Children, the Board of the Connecticut Commission on Health Equity, and served as a Corporator of Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.
Also sworn today were three members of the Tribe’s Youth Council. Akai Soria was sworn in as Vice Chairman, who is currently a high-honors senior at New London High School. Michaela Allen, currently Miss Mashantucket and a high school senior at Three Rivers Middle College, was sworn in as Treasurer. Lastly, Demetrius “Two Eagles” Kilgore was sworn in as Ambassador and is also a varsity point guard at Saint Bernard School.