David, who currently serves as Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Member, Mashpee Wampanoag Historic Preservation Officer and vice chairman of the Town of MashpeeSelect Board, has been involved in Mashpee town government since 2016, when he first served on the Planning Board. He has served on the Select Board since 2019 and is now seeking another term.

“What kind of world are we leaving for our future generations?” Weeden said, sharing that the question helps guide the decisions he makes on behalf of the town.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Rod and Gun Club will host its monthly Second Sunday Breakfast and Trap Shoot on Sunday, May 10.

Breakfast will be served from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., followed by trap shooting from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The breakfast cost is $15 per plate, and trap shoot rounds are $20 each, including clays and ammo.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Substance Use Disorder/Tribal Opioid Response Program hosted its first Healing Fire of 2026 on April 24, bringing together a large turnout of community members for an evening centered on connection, healing, and hope.

Held at the Tribe’s Community and Government Center, the gathering created a welcoming space for families, Tribal citizens, and community members to come together in support of recovery, wellness, and one another. The evening included 20 resource tables, the Mashpee Traditional Drummers, recovery testimonies, light food and refreshments, and time for reflection around the fire.

Representatives from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe joined members of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe, the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head Aquinnah, and representatives from the Narragansett Tribe for a ceremony held on April 30th, celebrating the state recognition of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe.

The gathering was held in Plymouth’s historic 1820 courtroom at Town Hall and honored the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ formal recognition of the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe. The recognition affirms Herring Pond’s longstanding presence, leadership, and relationship to their ancestral homelands, which stretch from the Plymouth area to the upper reaches of Cape Cod.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal families spent part of April vacation learning by the water during a special Right Whale Day field trip to Herring Cove Beach in Provincetown.

Hosted through the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department, the outing gave families an opportunity to learn more about the North Atlantic right whale, its migration, and the importance of protecting ocean life. Families gathered along the shoreline with binoculars, cameras, and curiosity, taking in the coastal environment while connecting the day’s lessons to the Tribe’s longstanding relationship with the ocean and marine life.

Members of the Daughters of Tradition after-school program recently visited the 13 Moons exhibit at Quashnet School to help prepare and fertilize the garden mounds.

Led through the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Education Department, Daughters of Tradition provides young Tribal girls in grades 3–6 with opportunities to learn through traditional knowledge, cultural teachings, and hands-on activities. During the visit, participants worked together in the garden, connecting with the land while learning about the care and responsibility that goes into sustaining traditional foodways.

Applications are open now for Utah Unây: Understanding the World Around Us Through TEK and Robotics, a free two-day program taking place June 13–14 from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. This hands-on opportunity brings together Traditional Ecological Knowledge and sensor engineering, giving participants the chance to explore the environment in new ways while building their own environmental sensors. The program is free, and participants who complete it will receive a $100 stipend. Those interested are encouraged to apply today by scanning the QR code on the flyer. For more information, contact Grace Simpkins at gsimpkins@whoi.edu or 240-644-7751.

Wampanoag Nation Singers & Dancers is inviting Tribal members to take part in a special two-day New Song Creation Workshop in Mashpee with Emmy-nominated composer and singer Jennifer Kreisberg (Tuscarora, NC).

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s Substance Use Disorder / Suicide Prevention Program is reminding our community that no one has to struggle alone. This initiative is dedicated to supporting mental health, recovery, and community well-being, and to making sure community members know that help is available for both youth and adults.

Community members are invited to come out for Rumble on the Rez 2026, a two-day event focused on fighting addiction together while supporting important causes in our community. The event will take place at 483 Great Neck Road South in Mashpee, with the boxing event on Friday, July 11, followed by a car show on Saturday, July 12.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Natural Resources Department is now accepting applications for POH 2026, a summer program for Native youth entering grades 5–8. This unique camp brings together modern science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge, giving youth the opportunity to explore the local ecosystem while learning how our ancestors understood, cared for, and sustained these same lands and waters for generations.

The Mittark has always been a place for the Mashpee Wampanoag community to stay connected — by sharing news, celebrating milestones, and honoring the people who make our Tribe strong. We invite Tribal members and families to help keep that spirit alive by submitting stories, updates, and announcements to be included in future issues.

Whether it’s a family milestone, a child’s achievement, an elder you would like to recognize, or a community event you want others to know about, your stories help strengthen the bonds that connect us as a people.