Steven Peters
Ramona Peters and Town Seal Committee ...

The Mashpee Historical Commission held its annual Historical Commission Preservation award ceremony last month. Tribal Elder Ramona Peters, Chairwoman of the Native Land Conservancy, received the 2019 Mashpee Historical Preservation Award.

Dasia Peters
Native groups seek to repair lands damaged by ...

Asa Peters marched into a thicket of Japanese knotweed in the woods of coastal Massachusetts this month and began steadily hacking the towering, dense vegetation down to size.

The 24-year-old member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe was among a cadre of volunteers rooting out invasive species and tending to recently planted native vegetation on a wide swath of forest acquired on behalf of his federally recognized tribe and other Wampanoag communities.

Dasia Peters
Tribal members urge boycott of ‘tone deaf’ ...

A long, winding, dirt path through Plimoth Patuxet Museums leads visitors to the Historic Patuxet Homesite, where they can find a traditional, indigenous hickory bark-covered wetu, a cooking arbor and replicas of customary mishoon canoes.

Plimoth Patuxet, a living history museum, invites guests in a video to interact and learn from Wampanoag and other Native American tribal members throughout the homesite, as they cook traditional food over a fire; tend to deer hides and furs that line the inside of the wetu; or scrape and maintain the inside of a mishoon with a quahog shell.

Dasia Peters
Tribe Receives $60,000 to Expand Employment ...

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has been awarded about $60,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The grant is part of about $71 million being awarded to 166 Indian and Native American entities across the nation to boost employment and training services and create pathways to middle-class careers.

Dasia Peters
Rory Dilweg Appointed Tribal Gaming Commission ...

Tribal council appointed Rory Dilweg as Chairman of the Tribal Gaming Commission. Dilweg is a partner in Ocotillo Law and Policy Partners, and has served as the Interim Tribal Gaming Commissioner since 2017.

Native groups seek to repair lands damaged by colonization

Asa Peters marched into a thicket of Japanese knotweed in the woods of coastal Massachusetts this month and began steadily hacking the towering, dense vegetation down to size.

The 24-year-old member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe was among a cadre of volunteers rooting out invasive species and tending to recently planted native vegetation on a wide swath of forest acquired on behalf of his federally recognized tribe and other Wampanoag communities.

Tribal members urge boycott of ‘tone deaf’ Plimoth Patuxet Museums

A long, winding, dirt path through Plimoth Patuxet Museums leads visitors to the Historic Patuxet Homesite, where they can find a traditional, indigenous hickory bark-covered wetu, a cooking arbor and replicas of customary mishoon canoes.

Plimoth Patuxet, a living history museum, invites guests in a video to interact and learn from Wampanoag and other Native American tribal members throughout the homesite, as they cook traditional food over a fire; tend to deer hides and furs that line the inside of the wetu; or scrape and maintain the inside of a mishoon with a quahog shell.

Tribal Members Speak on Unexpected Select Board Reorganization

On August 8th, a group of both tribal and community members attended the Mashpee Board of Selectmen meeting, voicing their concerns regarding a board reorganization that took place on July 25th. During the July meeting, John Cotton made a motion to reorganize the board, which ultimately gained a unanimous vote to reorganize as follows: John Cotton as chair, David Weeden as Vice Chair, and Thomas O'Hara as Clerk. The reorganization came about in the wake of an unexpected resignation by former chair Andrew Gottlieb.

Many who spoke during public comment felt that the reorganization gave the optics of collusion between select board members Cotton, Sherman, and O'Hara and subsequently aimed to strip the Vice Chair at the time, tribal member David Weeden, of his rightful opportunity to become chairman.

Wampanoag Speakers Bureau now Live

The Tribe’s Education Department has organized a Speakers Bureau comprised of tribal culture-keepers, native historians, and subject matter experts. The collective group of speakers are knowledgeable in various topics ranging from tribal historical perspectives, colonization, sovereignty, government relations, tribal constitution, and courts to instructional strategies beneficial to the engagement of tribal students. Speakers can be booked for engagements through the tribe’s website under the Education Department.

Nelson Andrews Works with FEMA on National Strategy

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released its firstever National Tribal Strategy 2022-2026. MWT Emergency Management Director Nelson Andrews Jr. has worked to assist FEMA HQ over the past few years with the National Tribal Strategy and the new Emergency Management Institute Tribal Training course material.

Through this new strategy, FEMA will develop a comprehensive FEMA Guide of programs and resources, regularly convene an annual meeting of national and regional tribal liaisons, expand training opportunities for tribal nations, and other related objectives.

Marie Stone Filed Complaint with Tribal Court

The Tribe has received notice of a lawsuit filed by Marie Stone pursuant to Article VIII, Section 2 of the Tribal Constitution as an expelled member seeking review of the Tribal Council's decision and alleging other claims. Article VIII, Section 2(c) provides that "[i]n the event the decision of the Tribal Council to expel the member of the Tribal Council in question is upheld by the Tribal Judiciary, the office shall be deemed vacant and filled in accordance with Section 4 of this Article." The Complaint was filed in Tribal Court and the Honorable District Court Judge, Jan Morris, will preside over the matter. We will continue to keep you apprised on the Tribal Court proceedings related to the expulsion and vacancy of the office of the Treasurer.

How to Get TERO Certified

The Mashpee Wampanoag TERO office will assist in creating, identifying, and connecting qualified Native Americans to employment and enterprise opportunities. TERO will keep Tribal businesses informed of available contract/sub-contracts within Tribal lands that are potentially available to them, as well as refer qualified individuals over to available jobs on Tribal properties.

Attend the AISES STEM National Conference: Apply by September 16

The Education Department will take up to five students to the AISES Stem National Conference in Palm Springs, CA. The event will take place from October 6th–8th, 2022. The three-day event focuses on educational, professional, and workforce development for Indigenous peoples of North America and the Pacific Islands in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) studies and careers. All Native students ages 15-20 are welcome to apply on the tribe’s website under the education department. For further information, please contact the Education Department at (508) 477-0208 ext 163.

STUDENTS MUST APPLY BY SEPTEMBER 16TH

Invitation to Bid on Sanitation Project

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Housing Department is seeking bids from qualified contractors for: Individual home septic installation located in Mashpee, MA. The pre-bid conference will be held Wednesday, September 7, 2022 at 10 AM at the resident’s site. Information, including the location of the project, is contained in the bid package, which is be given electronically by emailing trevor.carrington@mwtribe-nsn.gov. In order to qualify for the bid the contractor must be present at the time of the conference.

Falmouth EDIC Tries to Push Native Business Out

For the last three years, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Member John (Chef John) Marcellino has operated The Station Grill restaurant inside the building. He leases the space from the Falmouth Economic & Industrial Corporation, better known as the EDIC.

The relationship between tenant and landlord has deteriorated over time, and now Chef John says he believes the EDIC is trying to drive him out by sharply increasing the rent and maintenance payments, failing to make timely repairs, and generally treating him unfairly.

Talking Circle: Families that Support Children with Disabilities

A talking circle for Wampanoag parents and guardians who are raising students with disabilities will take place on Saturday, September 24th, from 1-4 PM at the Government Center. All who attend will be provided catered lunch and a stipend of $50 for their participation in the circle. To register for the event, contact Rania Kelly atrania@massfamilies.org or by phone at (617) 538-4056.

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