August Mittark
Thank You for Being Part of Our 105th Annual Homecoming
Kutâputunumuw to everyone who came home, showed up, helped out, and shared in the 105th Annual Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow.
Our annual homecoming is one of the Tribe’s most cherished gatherings. It is a time when families, elders, youth, singers, dancers, vendors, volunteers, staff, sponsors, and community come together to honor The People of the First Light and carry this important tradition forward.
The Tribe extends heartfelt thanks to the Powwow Committee and all of the volunteers who helped make this year’s gathering such a wonderful homecoming. From preparing the grounds and welcoming guests to supporting dancers, singers, vendors, families, and visitors throughout the weekend, your hard work and care were felt by the entire community.
Congratulations to all of the 2026 Powwow winners. The Tribe is proud to recognize the dancers and drums who shared their gifts in the circle this year.
We give special congratulations to our 2026 Powwow Princess, Amaya Balbuena, and our Little Miss Wampanoag, Weetamo Pocknett. Their roles help represent the strength, beauty, responsibility, and continuity of our young people and our community.
A full list of Powwow winners, along with photos from the weekend, is available on the Tribe’s Powwow page.
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Receives Historic FEMA Major Disaster Declaration
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has received approval for a Presidential Major Disaster Declaration related to the historic winter blizzard that impacted the Tribe’s Mashpee and Taunton properties earlier this year.
The declaration, FEMA-4919-DR, was approved on June 30, 2026, for the severe winter storm and snowstorm that took place February 22–23, 2026. The declaration makes Public Assistance available to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe for eligible emergency work and the repair or replacement of disaster-damaged facilities. Snow assistance has also been approved for a 48-hour period. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program remains under review.
According to Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Preparedness Officer Nelson Andrews Jr., the approval marks a historic milestone.
“This is an important and historic moment for our Tribe,” Andrews said. “To our knowledge, this is the first Presidential Major Disaster Declaration approved for a Tribal Nation in FEMA Region 1. Massachusetts and Rhode Island also submitted declaration requests connected to the same winter storm and were denied, making this approval especially significant. It shows the strength of our documentation, our preparedness work, and our Tribe’s ability to advocate directly for the resources needed to recover.”
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Receives Federal Approval for Tribal Historic Preservation Program
National Park Service agreement formally recognizes the Tribe's preservation authority on Tribal lands and David Weeden as Tribal Historic Preservation Officer
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has received important news from the National Park Service recognizing our Tribe's longstanding work to protect our history, culture, and sacred places.
On July 24, 2026, the Director of the National Park Service signed an agreement with the Tribe allowing it to formally assume certain Historic Preservation Officer responsibilities on Tribal lands in Massachusetts.
This is a major milestone, but the work did not begin this year. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Historic Preservation Department was established in 2012.
Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark
List of Committee and Board Seat Openings
