March Mittark

Youth Council Elects New Members

The Mashpee Wampanoag Youth Council reorganized its board and formally established new member roles last month. The youth nominated one another for the positions, and they were appointed as follows:

Isaiah Peters (Chairman), Storam Coombs (Chairwoman), Aiden Andrews (Vice Chairman), Amari Pocknett (Co-Treasurer), Payton Hendricks (Co-Treasurer), Kuhtahananut Pocknett (Co-Secretary), Anaquhs Dias (Co-Secretary), Grace Rossignol (Councilmember), Olive Mills (Councilmember), Char Russell (Councilmember), Ras Russell (Councilmember).

So far, the newly established Youth Council has assisted in the Mashpee Christmas Parade in preparing the tribal float, which won the Hometown Choice Award. They also recently hosted a coat collection drive at the Community and Government Center, with donations going to Lakota youth from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The Youth Council collected 38 hoodies and 23 coats to be sent out. Through their collaborative effort with the Office for Victims of Crime (OVC), the Youth Council also helped raise further awareness on teen relationship abuse prevention during last month's social.

The youth are excited to continue working together in the new year to plan more events focusing on community service, fundraising, and cultural activities. If you would like to support the Youth Council, they are taking donations. Please contact Youth Council Liaison Nelson Andrews Jr. at nelson.andrewsjr@mwtribe-nsn.gov for more information on donating.  

 

Honoring Ryan Hendricks with Annual Scholarship Fund

To remember their son, Kelley and Robbie Hendricks last year established the Ryan Michael Hendricks Scholarship Fund, which annually provides three $500 scholarships to Mashpee students, and the Ryan Michael Hendricks Foundation, which gives donations to families who have lost a loved one.

On March 5, the couple will hold the second annual Ryan Michael Hendricks “I Got You” Scholarship Dinner to benefit both. The event, which will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, at Siena Restaurant in Mashpee, will help the scholarship fund award $500 to three Mashpee students in May.

 

The Nurturing Fathers Support Group provides a safe and impactful space for tribal fathers to come together and open up to one another about trauma, parenting, relationships, traditional ways, and healing. Medicine Man Guy Cash has been facilitating the small group of men and has found that it can be challenging for fathers to find safe places to become vulnerable and discuss the heavy topics that weigh on their hearts or minds. According to Guy, the Nurturing Fathers Support Group helps to fill that gap and gives men a space to be seen and heard. The group acts as a network of fathers who work collectively to discuss their hardships and provide advice to one another. This connection continues outside of the group's physical meeting space. The men are encouraged to keep in touch outside meeting times as another form of support. Participants also work on personal growth and finding a better understanding of themselves.

 

Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark


List of Committee and Board Seat Openings