When Danielle Hill heard March 27 that her tribe’s reservation would be taken out of trust, she felt upset and resentful.

She wanted to find someone to blame. Instead, she decided to light a fire and pray.

Hill held a Facebook Live event and invited tribal members to stop by in solidarity while maintaining social distance.

Tribal member Marcus Hendricks has been getting harassed often lately while fishing for herring. People will yell at him or call the police and say he is trespassing or fishing illegally.

One woman approached him in April without a mask on and began to holler at him to stop fishing, he said.

Hendricks, who is part of the Mashpee and Nipmuck Wampanoag tribes as well as the Pequot, fishes every day at different herring runs on the Cape. He, along with many other tribal members, has been getting harassed by people who are unaware of aboriginal rights to fish and harvest.

Students between 5th and 8th grade can participate in the Youth Mush8n Project this summer. Tribal youth will learn from Darius Coombs (cultural educator and Mashpee Wampanoag tribal member) how to make a mush8n from a 12-foot pine log the way our ancestors did using fire as the main tool. The start date and group size are both dependent on the course the Covid-19 virus takes and parents/guardians are encouraged to register their children now.

In order to help stem the spread of the corona virus it is important to know where the virus is located. The purpose behind community testing is to identify which individuals have the virus so they can be separated from individuals who do not have the virus and thus help stop the spread of the disease and save lives.

As the warm spring days are now upon us leading into a summer unlike any other that we have experienced, we are facing many new challenges that are surrounding us in the midst of this new virus and unprecedented pandemic. In order to ensure that we are all doing our part and keeping our people and families safe at this time, we must be sure to remain cognizant and vigilant in our efforts. The Cape is already beginning to look as it does each year during this time with many tourists embarking into the area.

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.

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!

The Mashpee Wampanoag Victim Services Program will be presenting a series of articles on Victims of Crime. We have shared the help series on Elder Abuse and Assault in previous articles. We will now focus on Child Abuse.

Child abuse is when an adult—usually a parent, family member, caretaker, or someone else close to the family—hurts a child or teen, makes that youth feel worthless, has sexual contact with him or her, or does not provide adequate food, care, or shelter. Child abuse can happen to all types of kids and in all types of families. And it isn’t something that only happens to little kids: 32 percent of 14- to 17-year-olds in the United States have been abused or neglected in their lifetimes, and 28 percent have been sexually victimized.

The hemoglobin A1c test tells you your average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. People who have diabetes need this test regularly to see if their levels are staying within range. It can tell if you need to adjust your diabetes medicines. The A1c test is also used to diagnose diabetes.

HgA1C Testing will take place at the Mashpee Wampanoag Service Unit Clinic Tent on Thursday, June 18 and June 25 from 9 am to noon on both days. Call 508-477-6967 to schedule your appointment.