The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Election Committee invites Tribal Citizens to attend and participate in the 2019 “Meet the Candidates” Forum. The forum will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center located at 483 Great Neck Road South in Mashpee. Candidates will also have an opportunity to greet voters prior to the forum in the lobby (only) from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Election Committee extends notice to all Enrolled Tribal Members who will turn 18 years of Age on or before Sunday, February 10, 2019, that they are required to complete a Voter Registration Form in order to vote at the general election on Sunday, February 10, 2019 (the “Election Day”).

The Mashpee Wampanoag Education Department is offering a four-day winter camp for kids between grades 1 and 6. The fun-filled camp will run during the public school February Vacation from February 19-22 from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM daily.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Education Department would like to thank the Robert W Schlundt Trust, Robert William Schlundt and Natalie K Schlundt TTE, for the donation, of $1,000, for the tribe’s Education Fund. We are extremely grateful for the thoughtful generosity extended to our youth. A thank you letter was mailed today, along with a separate invitation to the Education Open House, on January 25. We will also acknowledge this gift on the Open House “Program”. The department expects to grow the fund dedicated to the support of tribal students attending college, through fundraising activities and events.

Congratulations to Donna Lokeman the Mashpee Wampanoag Family Dental Clinic November Incentive Prize Winner. Each month one lucky patient of the clinic is chosen at random as the winner and is able to select a prize. Prizes include items such as an electric toothbrush, a water pick or a dental care package.

The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is offering an amazing opportunity for Native Americans that between the ages of 18 and 24 and are enrolled members of a federally recognized tribe. The NIHB Health Policy Fellows are a diverse group of talented native youth who are dedicated to making a difference in their communities.

The Tribe is seeking snow removal services for tribal property in Taunton. Any tribally-owned businesses interested in snow removal/plowing this year for Tribal property in Taunton, please contact Councilwoman Yvonne Avant at (774) 238-8388 or yvonne.avant@mwtribe-nsn.gov.

Smokesygnals is seeking Wampanoag artisans that are skilled in either wampum bead production or traditional weaving (some training will be provided for the weaving). The project, The Wampum Belt, is funded by the The Arts Council of England and Plymouth City Council of England and will consist of a five to six foot long wampum belt and a documentary. Wampanoag Artists that participate in the bead making or weaving will be paid a fair and competitive rate for their service.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Health and Human Services Department has kicked off the “360 Project” to further address the ongoing opioid epidemic. The project is funded by SAMHSA under the Tribal Opioid Response (TOR) grant opportunity.

The 360 Project seeks to address the opioid epidemic by ways of decreasing the stigma and misuse of all substances and increasing holistic and cultural wellness with a strong focus on self-education, self-empowerment and self-sustaining.

Mashpee Indian Health Services will be offering a Weight Support Group, which will focus on educational tools and group discussion on achieving and maintaining weight loss.

The Weight Watchers Support Group is a weekly, one-hour class on Thursdays and is open to adult tribal members. The program will be held every Thursday from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. beginning on Thursday, March 7.

Mashpee Indian Health Services will be offering a four-week diabetes program. The diabetes program will begin on Monday, March 11 (program held each Monday) from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. at the MSU Administration Building located directly behind the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center.

Zumba with Shirley is back. Classes began on Tuesday, January 8 and are running Tuesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center. The zumba classes are free of charge and all are welcome…it’s open to the public so bring your friends.

For more information, please contact Shirley Jackson at (508) 524-8770.

In November of 2018 the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe crossed some exciting milestones toward helping to make the community safer and to help aid those impacted by natural disaster.

In early November, Nelson Andrews Jr, the Tribe’s Emergency Management Director along with Allyssa Hathaway, the Tribe’s Emergency Preparedness Specialist both participated in a customized two-day ground school provided by David Price, Co-Founder of the Drone Consultant Group (DCG). DCG is a company based in Massachusetts that provides drone safety training and certification to clients ranging from local town, to statewide and federal clients both public and private.

As part of the recently funded project by SAMHSA’s Tribal Opioid Response Grant (360 Project) the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Health and Human Services Department is conducting a Community Wellness Needs Assessment to determine further HHS programming. Our main objective is to initiate culturally driven wellness programs, services and activities while improving education and access to Medicated Assisted Treatment services combined with direct Peer Recovery support.

Let’s celebrate dental health month by doing the following:

1. Brushing & Flossing 2x a day

2. Using fluoridated toothpaste – spit out; don’t rinse

3. Reducing Sweet foods and drinks

4. Scheduling a dental appointment

The Mashpee Historical Commission and the Mashpee Public Library have joined together to cosponsor a Speaker’s Program. The programs will be held at the Mashpee Public Library on the first Saturday of the month, starting at 2:00 pm. The program is free and refreshments will be served. All are invited. Programs will run during the months of February, March, April, May, June, October and November 2019 and will be a lead up to the town’s 150th Anniversary in 2020.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available for the 2018 winter season. LIHEAP is designed to help eligible low-income households supplement part of their winter heating service bills.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department Career Pathways for Tribal Youth has organized a series of college tours over the next few months for high school juniors and seniors and a parent or guardian. The College tours include transportation to and from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center, hotel stay and a per diem provided for the student and 1 parent/legal guardian.