The Old Indian Meeting House Committee is extending an invitation to all tribal citizens, family, friends and guests to join them at the Old Indian Meeting House on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. for the annual Wampanoag New Year Celebration. Guests are asked to wear traditional regalia.

The Alice May Lopez Statue Fund Committee have realized its goal. On May 5 they will unveil a statue in memory of Alice who passed away unexpectedly at the age of 49 in 2011. Alice was the founder and first director of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Housing Department. The Committee will hold a ceremony in the lobby of the Community and Government Center with a potluck social in the Gymnasium following the ceremony.

During the Tribe’s monthly General Membership meeting on Sunday, April 14 an historic and undoubtedly emotional moment took place for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Community.

Tribal members learned who had been selected by lottery to live in the First Light Wampanoag Homes Development located on Meetinghouse Road in Mashpee.

The historic event capped several weeks of housing related events.

On March 30, an Honorary Partnership Ceremony took place at the site where the 42 unit housing structures will soon be constructed. Sight preparation has been underway since February.

On Earth Day 2019 Darius Coombs, Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Member and director of Wampanoag and Algonkian Interpretation at Plimoth Plantation led attendees to the Holmes Dam Removal and Town Brook Restoration Project where American eels and tagged river herring were released upstream of the Newfield Bridge.

The food pantry has added the Gillette Fusion 5 Proglide to its inventory. To receive razors, stop by the food pantry during normal hours.

July 1988 BBQ at 55 Acres. Can you recognize the faces? Darryl, Bruzzy, Chiefy, little Darius, Melvin, Renee, and Jessie to name a few.

Join WLRP at the MWT Community & Govt. Center for Wôp language games, stories, songs and prayer (4:30-5:30) followed by a potluck dinner (5:30-6:30). All of this is happening at the next Language Community Night on Friday, May 31.

The Election Committee is looking fordedicated tribal members to assist with the election process.  If you are interested in serving on the committee, please send a letter of interest to Francie Dottin, executive administrative assistant to the chairman, at frances.dottin@mwtribe-NSN.gov.

 ICWA is currently seeking foster parents. Do you have room in your heart to pro- vide a Native American foster home for our future generations? Our Native children of all ages, from infancy to teens that are being removed from their families at an alarming rate by the State. Department of Children and Families (DCF) and some are being placed in non-native homes.

The Mashpee town election is set for Tuesday, May 21 and incumbents are being challenged for seats on the board of selectman, planning board, school committee and the board of water commissioners. Tribal member David Weeden is seeking reelection on the Mashpee Planning Board, where he has been a consistent voice for conservation, is being challenged by John Phelan and Joseph Callahan. Please mark your calendar and vote on May 21.

Eat at the 99 Restaurant on Wednes- day May 15, 29 and June 12 between 5 PM and 9 PM to support the Maspee Wampanoag Powwow Committee. All you have to do is show the flyer and 15% of your bill will directly support the 2019 Powwow. Dine for a cause at the 99 and please spread the word.

The town of Mashpee has a rich history dating back to 1870 when the town was first incorporated. There are many family names that have died off while many remain, all of which are extremely important to the story of Mashpee’s past. One of the names less familiar would be the Attaquin family; often associated with the community garden area, where the Hotel Attaquin once stood or when referring to Mashpee Pond’s popular Attaquin Park. This and other families were very prominent in the community and were critical to the success of the Town.

At the May town meeting in Mashpee residents will be voting on a special warrant that will provide much needed funding to restore the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s historic parsonage. The town meeting will be held on Monday, May 6 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mashpee High School. You must be registered to vote in Mashpee to cast a vote in the town meeting.

A petition article at the May town meeting in Mashpee will request reconceptualization of the town seal, which is now a replica of the state seal depicting a Native American below a sword, ad is a “reminder of the genocide and history between the Commonwealth and the indigenous inhabitants.” If approved, the town’s historical commission would be tasked with a new seal design.

The Indian Child Welfare Department, in collaboration with the Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Health Services Unit, the Department of Public Health, and tribal departments kicked off a month-long series of community focused events in April and continue through May 16.  The series titled “A 2019 Prevention, Awareness and Wellness Celebration” includes several events with a shared theme of “Healthy Minds to Protect Our Children and Maintain Tribal Connections.”

Over April Vacation the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department Career Pathways for Tribal Youth wrapped up the series of college tours with a visit to several schools in the New Mexico region. The complete program which ran from February through April took interested high school students and their parents to schools across New England, Colorado and New Mexico.

Please join the Garden Club on Thursday, May 30 at 1:00 PM in front of the Mashpee Wampanoag Health Service Unit (located behind the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center) for their annual planting. All of the necessary plants, seeds and equipment will be available.

The Building Pathways for Tribal Youth in partnership with the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department are pleased announce they will be hosting a 3 on 3 basketball tournament on Friday, May 17. The tournament will be held at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center from 2:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Mashpee Indian Health Services will be offering a four-week diabetes program. The diabetes program will begin on Thursday, June 6 (program held each Thursday) at 1:30 p.m. at the MSU Administration Building located directly behind the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center. Classes will run June 6 through June 27.

The Women’s Process Group “the Authentic Connection” will provide a space for Tribal Matriarchs to meet, share, explore and support each other through a wide range of issues such as life stressors, life changes, relationships, coping and more. The group will have its first meeting on Friday, May 10 at 11:00 a.m. at the Health Service Unit.