The Tribe has joined a long list of organizations that have opposed constructing the gun range on Joint Base Cape Cod. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council voted to officially oppose the gun range at a tribal council meeting on June 9.

The Tribe, a constant voice for preserving natural habitats, found it necessary to voice opposition to a project that would require clear-cutting 170 acres of forestland. If allowed to move forward, the impact area is closer to 5,000 acres, much of which supports wildlife habitat. In addition, the tribal council opposes the project because it is within the watershed protection area, which has conservation restrictions that protect the drinking water for the surrounding communities.

Since Joint Base Cape Cod downsized, many areas on the base have slowly allowed needed habitats for wildlife to return. The proposed gun range will erase the progress made to restore these precious lands.

David Weeden, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Member and Selectman for the Town of Mashpee, has been a vocal supporter of environmental preservation also opposes the project. “We have to look at the long-range impact the project with have for Mashpee and the Tribe,” said Weeden.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe join a long list of opponents including, 350 Cape Cod, Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative, Faith Communities Environmental Network, Coalition for Social Justice, Sierra Club of Cape Cod, Youth Climate Action Network, Sustainable Practices, Lower Cape Indivisible, Cape Cod Women 4 Change, Sandwich Democratic Town Committee, League of Women Voters Cape Cod Area, Association to Preserve Cape Cod and Falcon.