January 2022 Mittark
Our Land: Department of Interior Confirms Tribe’s Reservation
On December 22 the Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland issued a lengthy decision in which he confirmed the status of the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Tribe’s Reservation. In so doing, he confirmed that the Interior has authority under the Indian Reorganization Act to take such action, and further confirmed that the Tribe’s Reservation has remained in federally protected trust status since the Reservation land was first placed in trust six years ago on November 10, 2015.
Chairman Brian Weeden reflected on the news after receiving the call. “This is a momentous day for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, for indigenous communities across the country, and for defenders of justice,” said Chairman Weeden.
Chairman Weeden added that “we are grateful that President Biden and his administration, including Secretary Deb Haaland, Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland, and Solicitor Bob Anderson, have faithfully implemented the law and respected the sovereign rights of our tribe to protect our reservation.”
“Most importantly, this day belongs to each and every tribal member. It belongs to our ancestors who fought and died for our land. It belongs to our children who will forever have a place to be Wampanoag,” said Chairman Weeden.
“I congratulate the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on this major victory, which conclusively reaffirms the trust status of their reservation,” said U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren. “The Massachusetts congressional delegation and I have proudly stood with the Tribe throughout its fight to protect their ancestral homelands—a fight that should never have been necessary in the first place. I am glad to see the Biden Administration and the Department of the Interior finally issue this confirmation, and to end the attempt begun by the Trump Administration’s to unjustly disestablish the Tribe’s reservation.”
“The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has withstood years of uncertainty after the Trump administration’s unlawful, unprecedented and unjust attempt to abrogate their sovereignty and take away their Tribal lands,” said U.S. Senator Ed Markey. “The Department of the Interior’s decision finally lays to rest these wrongful actions and reaffirms the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s right to this land”
“This decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs represents a new chapter of self-determination for the People of the First Light,” said Congressman Bill Keating. “I applaud the BIA’s decision to look beyond the political calculations of the prior administration and instead focus on the needs and wishes of the Tribe and extend my congratulations to Chairman Weeden and the Tribe as a whole as they benefit from this decision going forward.”
“To Senators Warren and Markey, to Representative Keating and
former Representative Kennedy, to all the members of Congress and the Massachusetts Legislature, the more than 40 tribes and tribal organizations across the country, and the more than 350,000 citizens who have unfailingly championed our cause, we share this day with you,” said Chairman Weeden.
Chairman Weeden is now looking forward to strengthening his Tribal Nation. “This decision allows us to reclaim and protect our cherished Land and better serve our people for generations to come,” said Chairman Weeden. “While the injustices inflicted upon us cannot be erased, we can look to the future - a future of prosperity in every sense of the word. We wish this not just for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, but for Tribal communities all across the land.”
Like so many tribal citizens, I’ve given a tremendous amount of thought to what it means to have our land secure.
I’ve thought about our youth and future generations of tribal members that will never have to argue before a court or legislative body about what our connection to this land is. I’ve thought about the damage that long battle has taken on our generation and past generations – to have to define what we have always known is true. We are Mashpee Wampanoag.
I’ve thought about our language and education. We cannot strengthen our language – a language that was silent for generations through a process of cultural genocide – without our ancestral homeland. We cannot provide our children with a learning environment that not only respects but embraces our culture without our land and sovereign rights.
I’ve thought about our culture and traditions. We cannot pass on our traditions and culture without our ancestral homeland. We cannot show our children how to hunt, fish, and sustainably grow crops without our land. We cannot provide future generations with the comfort of knowing they can live and provide for their family and community traditionally without our land.
This land is our tribal center. It is where our traditional gathering place is. It is where we live and will continue to be Wampanoag for generations to come.
I could not think about everything we gained last month without honoring our ancestors and past tribal leaders. Every family and clan within our Tribe can point to a matriarch and patriarch that has given everything to our fight for this land. I am humbled by the work of our ancestors to bring us to this place and time – a moment when we can finally say that we have won back a small piece of what had been taken.
Many of you have known me since I was a small child. You’ve watched me grow and mature into the man speaking to you today. I learned from watching the elders in the community. So, you know I’m not done fighting for our Tribe. I’m not about to stop with this victory.
We are owed more. We come from a lineage that never had to want for anything. The concept of lacking is foreign to our people and something imposed on our people through colonization. That’s our goal and what will keep me fighting for our people today and tomorrow.
David Greendeer Hired as New Tribal Administrator
David Greendeer, an experienced native business development professional, was hired as the new Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Administrator. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council appointed Greendeer as the head of tribal operations unanimously in December.
Greendeer, a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation, has a solid connection to Mashpee. “I would like to thank the Mashpee tribal leadership and membership for allowing me this opportunity to assist the tribe as it continues to rebuild and prosper,” said David. “I would also like to thank everyone who welcomed my father and me into the community. As a young child the community supported me, and looked out for my well-being. I will do my best to assist the tribe and help to rebuild its foundation for the future of the Wampanoag Nation.”
Tribal Council Chairman Brian Weeden is looking forward to working closely with David to provide support and direction to the many departments that will report to the new Tribal Administrator. “David has an impressive record of building successful programs and economic enterprises across Indian Country,” said Chairman Weeden. “It’s an area that our Tribal Council wanted our next TA to be comfortable with, and we now have that with David.”
Before accepting the position as Tribal Administrator, Greendeer served as the Vice President of Twelve Clans Incorporated (Section 17 of Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin) and the Executive Director of…
Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark
