On Friday, January 13, federal district court Judge Angel Kelley held a court proceeding in which all parties were able to present their arguments as to why the court should rule in their favor. Attorneys for the Tribe and the United States together argued that the court should uphold the Secretary of the Interior’s finding that the Mashpee Tribe was under federal jurisdiction in 1934, and that therefore the Tribe’s land should remain in trust.

David Tennant, arguing for the Littlefields, rehashed the same arguments that the Littlefields have been making for several years, and they tried to undermine the importance of the Tribe’s evidence, for example the importance of Mashpee children attending the Carlyle Indian School.

The Tribe continues to feel confident about the moral justice of its position in the litigation, and will continue to fight to protect our Reservation. It may still be several months before Judge Kelley issues a final decision.