The Tribal Historic Preservation Department needs Cultural Resource Monitors (CRMs). This work will be contractual, on an as needed basis. This is a great opportunity for Tribal members that are interested in our culture. Applicants should be experienced with the outdoors through hunting, fishing, map reading and demonstrate cultural knowledge. THPD has gone paperless in data communications; successful candidates must be knowledgeable or willing to learn digital file sharing, and adapt to using computerized field equipment. The training will increase your traditional cultural knowledge to help you comfortably represent the Tribe on site.

The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project (WLRP) and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Child Care Development Fund (CCDF) present the Spring/Summer 2020 Community Language Education Series. The series will be held Thursdays from 5:00 – 6:00 pm on Zoom and will feature Tribal artists, language bearers, and educators. You can learn more at wlrp.org/events.html.

The leaders of five tribal nations, including the chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribal council, recalled their negative experiences with the federal government in a panel discussion on protecting tribal lands and sacred sites on Tuesday, June 23.

Hosted online by the National Congress of American Indians, the tribal leaders rebuked the current administration, called for greater tribal autonomy and shared their unique experiences defending tribal lands and sacred sites from encroachment.

Congressman Joe Kennedy III and Congresswoman Deb Haaland has filed legislation that would protect the trust status of tribal lands, preventing the federal government from revoking prior decisions granting the special status for any federally recognized tribe.

Trust status is a special designation that promotes tribal self-governance by exempting the reservation from state and local regulations.

Summer camp vouchers are available for Native American students enrolled in the Barnstable, Falmouth, New Bedford, Sandwich, and Wareham, Public Schools.

Voucher distribution is first come first served.

Call and leave a message for Kitty Hendricks at (508) 477-0208 X 143

Email gertrude.hendricks@mwtribe-nsn.gov

MWT Education will not operate a tribal summer camp in 2020

The Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Museum is hopeful that it may be able to open the doors to the Museum in mid-July. Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, David Weeden, said he is working closely with the Emergency Preparedness Department on opening with proper social distancing protocols. David said ensuring the safety of the staff and visitors is paramount.

Within the state of MA, on Cape Cod and throughout our region you will notice that communities and businesses are starting to re-open, you may be looking for ways to resume some daily activities as safely as possible. While there is no way to ensure zero risk of infection, it is important to understand potential risks and how to adopt different types of prevention measures to protect yourself, help protect our elders, and to reduce the spread of COVID-19. As a reminder, if you have COVID-19, have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, or have been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, it is important to stay home and away from other people. When you can leave home and be around others depends on different factors for different situations. Follow CDC’s recommendations for your circumstances.

The U.S overall has recently seen some of the largest single-day increases of COVID-19 cases. As the Summer months are now upon us, we have also seen an increase in local tourism as well. With this increased tourist activity, travelers from various regions within the U.S are potentially arriving from areas with high case counts of COVID-19. Although the positive cases are increasing in various parts of the U.S, our tribe has been able to maintain relatively low case counts through our pro-active approach towards preparedness and response. The messaging and efforts from the tribes emergency management department have been largely focused on the importance of getting tested, wearing PPE, social distancing and good hygiene.

Tribal ID’s are available on Fridays through appointment, call the Enrollment Dept. before Friday x 173.

ID’s will not be done if we don’t have a picture in our database, some may not have a signature and may not be accepted as official. You will not be allowed to come into the building to create the signature.

NOTICE - July 4th holiday week, Tribal ID’s will only be available on July 2nd.

Call 508-477-0208 x 173 to make sure you have a picture in the system, no picture no ID.

$20 cash only, call Security 508-477-0208 x 192 to pick up outside of the offices after 12 noon.

There are several open positions at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. As of the date of publication the following positions are open. Please visit the Human Resource section of the Tribe’s website for complete position descriptions and details for applicants.

Want a simple, no-cost way to support WLRP? Just go shopping with Amazon and have a percentage of your purchases donated to WLRP!

Plus, Amazon Smile customers can now support the Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones! Simply follow these instructions to turn on AmazonSmile and start generating donations.

The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project (WLRP) will be electing a new slate of board officers during its next Language Committee meeting on September 6, 2020. Up for nomination and election are President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and three At-large positions. If you are 16 or older and have been a student, teacher, or linguist of WLRP, you are encouraged to get involved as a member of the board.

Staff from the Weetumuw School invited students and families to attend an End of Year Drive-Through last month as they continue to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Starting at the Powwow Road on tribal grounds, families were able to drive by and and say,"Peesh Kunâ​​​​​​​unumuw" (see you again) to their teachers, pick up any leftover personal items, and receive a tasty goodbye present from Edible Arrangements.

Starting this coming fall, the Mashpee Public School (MPS) District will be hanging Land Acknowledgement posters in classrooms and common areas in each of the three MPS school buildings: KC Coombs, Quashnet, and Mashpee Middle/High School.

Go ahead. Tear down every statue of Christopher Columbus to protest the cruelty against indigenous people that began with the colonization of a New World and was then carried forward.

An assault on stone won’t change history — or change the long arc of injustice still endured by Native Americans, including the Mashpee Wampanoag, a tribe that greeted the Pilgrims and participated in the first Thanksgiving. That takes a well-orchestrated, highly concentrated assault on power.

Mashpee Wampanoag Museum staff have the opportunity to receive training on the new exhibit “400 Years Ago.” Exhibit developer Linda Coombs and Tribal Historic Preservation Officer David Weeden has prepared a training manual and walk through for staff interested in exploring the exhibit in depth. Museum staff will receive a stipend for completing the training. The exhibit development and training are funded by the National Museums and Library Services (NMLS).

On Tuesday, June 23, Mashpee voters reelected David Weeden to the board of selectman to a full three-year term. David received 1,533 votes and is the only Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Citizen elected to the board of selectman for the town.

David, who also serves as a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council and as the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, served an 8-month term on the board of selectman after winning a special election in October of 2019. In his position on the board of selectman, David has worked toward clean water, sustainable growth and development and affordable housing.

As a Native American your response is more important than ever. The tribe began calling its membership in mid-May. If you have questions or need help, we are here for you. Your response effects the services we provide to you. Make sure to include everyone that lives with you. Make sure to state your race as Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe!

It may sound strange, but people who have lived with abuse for many years may not even realize that they are being abused. If you have grown up in a family where abuse occurs almost every day, you may think that hitting, pushing, or constant yelling are normal ways to treat the members of your family and other people. Every family has arguments, but when yelling goes too far or lasts too long or when disagreements turn physical, that is abuse, and abuse is not normal or healthy.