January Mittark
Youth Organize Float in Christmas Parade: Selected as the Hometown Choice Award Winners
Tribal youth, including Pow Wow Princess Jenaya Perry, Little Miss Wampanoag Misqua Wahan Strickland, and Youth Council members, with support from the Youth Advisory Committee and the Emergency Management Department, organized this year’s Tribal float for the Mashpee Christmas Parade. This year’s float for the tribe won the “Hometown Choice” award from the Mashpee Chamber of Commerce. The chamber is providing a gift card that the youth council can use.
This year’s float featured tribal youth and tribal drummers on the Emergency Management Department boat covered in wreathes, pine tree branches, garlands and Christmas lights with tribal drummers on the rear deck. Behind the boat were youth dancers, and leading in the front was the Tribal Police truck driven by Captain Curtis Frye, with Amiya Peters dressed as the Grinch standing in the truck bed. The display of culture and holiday cheer made it a clear winner of the Chamber of Commerce Award. The tribe was also an official gold sponsor of this year’s parade through coordination of the Emergency Management Department and the new Youth Council.
Councilman Nelson Andrews Jr, the Tribal Council Liaison to the Youth Council, enjoyed seeing the tribal youth recognized for their hard work. “I just want to thank and congratulate the amazing team of youth, departments, and drummers that made the float possible,” said Councilman Andrews. “Chairman Weeden established the Youth Council and has provided valuable insight and guidance to the current members. You can see the youth responding to the support we provide.
If any Tribal Youth would like to join, they should attend the next Youth Council meeting on January 8, 2024, at 5:30 PM in the council chambers or email Councilman Andrews at Nelson.AndrewsJr@mwtribe-nsn.gov.
Ethics Ordinance Review/Hearing January 14th
The Tribal Council will hold an “Ethics Ordinance Review/Hearing” on Sunday, January 14, 2024 from 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center located at 483 Great Neck Road South in Mashpee.
The main purpose of the Ethics Ordinance is to accomplish the following objectives:
To create the Mashpee Wampanoag Ethics Commission and establish the basic operating procedures and standards for it;
To promote and strengthen the faith and confidence of Tribal members and non- Tribal members in the Tribe's government and administration;
To require accountability to the people of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, including but not limited to elected, appointed and assigned public officials, employees, contractual workers, volunteers and all others engaged with the Tribe; and
To enact as law the guiding principle that public office is a trust and the officers and officials of the government are trustees; and both the trust and the trustees are created for the benefit of our people.
Tribal Members Gather to Discuss Cemetery: Plans to Install Cameras
More than 40 tribal citizens showed up at the tribal government center on Saturday, December 23rd, for a community discussion about inappropriate activities at the Old Indian Cemetery.
Led by tribal Chief Earl Mills Jr. and Medicine Man Guy Cash the meeting was mostly attended by tribal Elders and also several tribal youth who came to speak about the late night gatherings and partying at the cemetery.
“This is a final resting place for our ancestors, and this is just wrong to congregate if you’re not respectful of all the ancestors,” said Councilman David Weeden, reflecting the sentiments of many in the room who feel as the cemetery has become a gathering place for young people that carries on well into the late evening and early morning hours; where there’s questionable behavior at times.
Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark
List of Committee and Board Seat Openings
