For more than 25 years he has been chief of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Last month Chief Silent Drum, Vernon “Bunny” Lopez, announced that he will retire as of June 16, his 100th birthday.

While the ongoing process to identify a new chief continues, the duties of the chief will be distributed among our Clan Mothers.

“The Chief is well, but very much needs to lighten his responsibilities,” said his daughter Marlene Lopez, Rabbit Clan Mother. “He will always be our chief, just taking life a bit easy.”

We sat with Chief Silent Drum in his parlor over looking his winter worn garden to reflect on his time as chief and what he hopes for the person who will replace him.

He didn’t seek out the position originally, “but some of the elders asked me to do it and I respected that,” he said. The Chief recalled that he attended a ceremony in our sacred circle at 55 acres and stood among three or four others who had also been selected to be considered as chief. After some discussion and questions of the proposed leaders the tribe members in attendance stood behind the one they felt would best serve as chief. It was to be Silent Drum.

“I was surprised to be chosen,” he said smiling, “I’m just an ordinary guy.”

As Chief, he has been ordinary in extraordinary ways. Representing his people as the traditional leader has been a great honor for him, one he has enjoyed and taken very seriously.

He has represented us at all kinds of events and occasions over this last quarter of a century from community socials, to powwows to presidential inaugurations.

“When I met President Bush, the first one, I gave him a walking stick I hand carved myself,” he recalled, “I gave a similar one to President Clinton.”

On the mantle over the fire place a photo of the Chief and his late wife Mary poses the two of them dressed for Bush’s inaugural ball. Mary in a stunning pale blue gown and the Chief in a tuxedo. He said he attended lots of events with powerful people including the governor and state and federal legislators.

“A lot of them didn’t really know who we were, and it was my job to bring the good word of the Wampanoag people.”

But as much as he enjoyed being wined and dined from the state house to the White House he has been most comfortable right at home in Mashpee serving his people in his own simple manner.

Many a tribe member has been welcomed into the parlor where there is always a comfortable chair with a view of his nature menagerie. On the day of our visit a flock of turkeys strutted around pecking at seed left for the birds and animals that visit daily. One of the males fanned his tail feathers and pridefully puffed out his chest. It is a scene that evolves with the seasons and will soon be bursting with flowers and herbs and songbirds and chipmunks. 

While he is retiring from actively representing the tribe he enjoys having people visit and hopes that will continue.