Nutus8ees Ciara Hendricks. My name is Ciara Hendricks and I am the 2024-2025 Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Princess! I am the daughter of Vice Chairman Carlton Hendricks Jr. and Melisha Bingham-Hendricks, the granddaughter of Carlton Hendricks Sr. and George Bingham. I am the great-grandaughter of Ellen Hendricks and Amelia Bingham.

I am 16 years old and entering my junior year at Mashpee Middle-High School. In my time there, I’ve become an active member of the 2026 Student Council and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. I was elected as captain of the Varsity Lacrosse team and also play field hockey and basketball. I am also a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Youth Council.

Representing my Native culture has always been important to me, and I believe being chosen as our tribe’s 2024-2025 Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Princess is one of the best ways to do so. I plan on attending our neighboring tribe’s powwows and events and hopefully traveling to those outside the Northeast in hopes of connecting, learning, and sharing one another’s ways. As I’ve progressed through school, the lack of awareness of our tribe’s history and traditions has become apparent to me.

In this next year, I hope to bring more connectedness between our tribe and the public community of Mashpee through more education and public events. In my reign, I hope to inspire youth to be proud of who they are and embrace the resilience our ancestors built within us. Thank you all for this honor, and please feel free to reach out to my cell with any questions, connections, or new opportunities at 508-648-8810.