July Mittark
Chef Sherry Pocknett Wins Best Chef Northeast
Tribal member Sherry Pocknett made history on June 5th as the first Indigenous woman to win a James Beard Award, taking home the prestigious award for Best Chef Northeast. Sherry runs Sly Fox Den Too in Charlestown, R.I. She opened the restaurant in 2021 and named it after her late father, Mashpee Wampanoag Chief Sly Fox, Vernon Pocknett.
Sherry was a semifinalist among twenty other chefs from New England and was ultimately selected as the winner where she was honored at the foundation's annual ceremony in Chicago. This accomplishment has gained her national attention, as the James Beard Awards are often referred to as the "Oscars of the food world." Sherry gave her emotional acceptance speech in traditional eastern regalia and noted:
"I have cancer. I'm sure I'm not the only one in the room that does, but I'm almost through it. This honor is just unbelievable. It's something that I never even dreamed of. Thank you."
Sherry has been an active Wampanoag community member her whole life, and tribal members have been fortunate enough to have her food catered at many tribal social events, including at the tribe's annual powwow. Congratulations to Sherry and the Pocknett family; this award is well deserved.
As inter-tribal drummers and singers sang an honor song at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Government Center Thursday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland stood somber among roughly 150 Wampanoag tribal citizens.
"I'm honored to be here with all of you. Thank you for inviting us, thank you for hosting us, and thank you for being such beautiful people," said Haaland.
Haaland is one of the first Native American women to serve in Congress and is the first Native American to serve as a cabinet secretary. During her time in Congress, she focused on environmental justice, climate change, missing and murdered Indigenous women, and family-friendly policies, according to the U.S. Department of Interior website. Haaland is a member of the Pueblo of Laguna Tribe.
Before spending time with tribal citizens during a traditional Native American social, Chairman Weeden said Haaland met with members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council, and took a tour of the Mashpee Wampanoag Museum, the Old Indian Meetinghouse, and Punkhorn Point in Popponesset Bay.
She spoke with tribal leaders like Mashpee Wampanoag Chief Earl "Chiefie" Mills, Jr. - who was raised May 6 - Chief Earl Mills Sr., and Sagamore Vernon “Buddy” Pocknett. Earlier in the day, said Weeden, Haaland also visited the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), and headed to Rhode Island Friday to spend time with the Narragansett Indian Tribe.
The 102nd Annual Pawâw has returned to Mashpee on July 1st 2nd and 3rd. The 2023 annual pawâw features special events, contests, food, vendors, drumming and dancing, and will be held on the Pawâw Grounds at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center. Gates for the powwow will open daily at 10:00 AM.
The application for the 2023-2024 Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Princess competition is available online here. All eligibility requirements are stated within the form, and applications are due by July 3rd at 12:00 PM.
Medicine Man Earl “Guy” Cash will hold the traditional Naming Ceremony for tribal members on Sunday, July 2nd starting at 6:30 AM at the Meeting House.
The Sly Fox Mishoon Race will also take place powwow weekend with prize money donated from the Native Land Conservancy. For the entire program click the button below.
Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark
Our annual powwow has arrived and will run Saturday, July 1st through Monday, July 3rd. Tickets for the Clam Bake are now on sale and I recommend purchasing your ticket as soon as possible. These tickets always sell out quickly.
As inter-tribal drummers and singers sang an honor song at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Government Center Thursday, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland stood somber among roughly 150 Wampanoag tribal citizens. "I'm honored to be here with all of you. Thank you for inviting us, thank you for hosting us, and thank you for being such beautiful people," said Haaland.
The US supreme court has ruled that Native American children can continue to be protected under federal law against being removed from their tribal communities for fostering or adoption, rejecting a petition from a white couple who argued that the provision was a form of racial discrimination.
Community members have begun constructing a wetu at Maushop Farm, kicking off the development of Maushop's Village, a traditional Wampanoag homesite. Cedar poles have been harvested and stripped, and the structure is currently being built. Tribal youth interns have participated in each step of the process
The Education Department provides paid internship opportunities for tribal youth to gain experience in various career fields. Below are a few highlighted students who have done great work in their respected internships.
Caregivers of Indigenous Children and Adults with Support Needs will be meeting every second Saturday of the month via Zoom from 1:00 – 2:30 PM. Discussion topics will include how to advocate for your loved one, and how to navigate the system to get supports that work for Indigenous families.
It’s with a heavy heart that we once again share news that the water in our ancestral homeland is dying. The signs are now posted in bright yellow with the world CAUTION. The town of Mashpee has created a website for you to check the quality of the water before enjoying what was not too long ago pristine waters for fishing, swimming and enjoying. We do have to ask ourselves when is the building enough when have we put too much of a burden on this land and passed the point of return.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Department will seek community input on Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 6:00 PM regarding the 2022 HUD Annual Performance Report (APR). The meeting will be held in person at the Tribe’s Community and Government Center, 483 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee, MA.
All Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Members are invited to attend and have their voices heard before the Housing Department submits the yearly APR to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Housing Department is seeking a qualified Landscape Contractor to landscape our new 42-unit housing development. The landscape contract to include:
Contractor must prepare each yard around the homes by spreading 3 inches of loam, power raking the areas, and spreading quality hydro seed. The contractor must water and maintain the growth of the lawn until the grass has matured. Extra seeding should be used if necessary.
Grade and slope sand piles within the development.
Calling all dads, uncles, grandfathers, big brothers that are raising our tribal children. The East Door Nurturing Fathers Support Group is here to provide a support group. Raising our tribal children is an awesome responsibility and we need to help by building, sharing, teaching and learning together.
Raising tribal children in a good way is how we grow as a tribal nation and break generational abuse. We’re here to help you be the difference and be the change. The program will be led by our spiritual leader Medicine Man Earl “Guy” Cash and will be held at the Tribe’s Community and Government Center.
Rumble on the Rez, the boxing exhibition that raises awareness and funds for various causes in our community, will return on August 5th. The event will be held at the Community and Government Center (483 Great Neck Road South) from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
As with past years, Rumble on the Rez, will be raising awareness and fighting against substance abuse. The fight for our youth starts early and this year all of the proceeds from the event will go to the Ryan Hendricks Scholarship Fund.
KKaties Burgers is a Certified Native American-owned business registered with the Tribes TERO Office located on Main Street Hyannis. Tribal member Jason Steiding owns the Hyannis location. There are six KKaties Burgers throughout Massachusetts, and Jason's family has ownership in each.
List of Committee and Board Seat Openings
THE TRIBE CURRENTLY HAS VARIOUS OPEN COMMITTEE SEATS LOOKING TO BE FILLED BY TRIBAL MEMBERS.
Please send LOI’s to Secretary Cassie Jackson at cassie.jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov
The Youth Advisory Committee is looking for interested Tribal Members to join the Youth Advisory Committee. The committee’s main purpose is to consult with, and provide input to Tribal entities and Tribal individuals who desire such consultation in order to assist them with achieving maximum coordinated benefits for Mashpee tribal youth. Please send a letter of interest (LOI) to Tribal Council Secretary Cassie Jackson at Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov if you would like to join the committee.
The Old Indian Cemetery Commission will be responsible for creating the cemetery policies, procedures, rules, and regulations to help preserve and maintain the Old Indian Cemetery. The committee will be made up of nine members comprised of the following:
Tribal council established a Broadband Task Force through tribal resolution 2023-RES-055. It was created to help enforce a strategic approach to broadband planning and development that reflects the unique needs and priorities of the tribe. The Task Force will serve as an advisory body to the T.E.R.O and provide guidance and recommendations on broadband strategic planning and developments.
The Housing Commission currently has two (2) open seats to be filled. Those who are interested may send an LOI to Secretary Cassie Jackson at cassie.jacson@mwtribe-nsn.gov
The tribe is looking to get the Education Committee back up and running. There are currently five open seats on the committee. The committee will focus on scholarship opportunities and educational programming for tribal youth. Those who are interested are asked to send a LOI and their educational background to Secretary Cassie Jackson at Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community Development Corporation (CDC) is currently seeking qualified tribal citizens to join the CDC Board of Directors. The CDC was organized to engage in activities that will promote the social welfare, economic security and community development of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and its enrolled citizens that will enable the Tribe to be self-sufficient and to provide economic support for its tribal citizens. If you are interested in serving as a CDC Board of Director, please send a letter of interest along with your resume/CV to Secretary Cassie Jackson, Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov and carbon copy mwtcdc@mwtribe-NSN.gov.
The Pow Wow Committee is looking for Tribal Members to join the Committee for a 2-year term to plan the 103rd and 104th Annual Mashpee Wampanoag Pow Wow. If you are interested, please send a letter of interest to Tribal Council Secretary Cassie Jackson at Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov.