August Mittark
102nd Annual Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow
The 102nd annual Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow was a beautiful showcase of Wampanoag culture, community, and tradition. The three-day event featured drumming, singing, competition, and food and craft vendors. Traditional ceremonies and events were held, including fireball, the Sly Fox Mishoon Race, and the sunrise naming ceremony.
The third and final day of powwow had a special focus on Mashpee royalty. The crowning ceremonies for Little Miss Wampanoag and the Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Princess were held; Misqua Wahan Strickland was crowned as our 2023-2024 Little Miss Wampanoag, and Jenaya Perry was crowned as our 2023-2024 Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Princess.
Our former Powwow Princess, Amiyah Peters, held a special alongside the Weeden family to honor Patricia “Cammetah” Turner-Weeden, Mashpee’s first Powwow Princess. The special invited all former Mashpee princesses to participate and dance alongside one another. At its conclusion, a Princess Coalition was established and Victoria Miranda accepted the position as its president.
The annual homecoming went off successfully and dancers of all ages were able to make their way back into the circle to honor our ancestors in a good way. Special thanks to our tribal leadership, employees, community members, volunteers, and sponsors for making this year’s powwow possible. This annual powwow shows that Mashpee continues to shine, and we look forward to continuing the tradition next summer.
To see a full photo gallery of the 102nd annual Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow, please click here. If you had a professional portrait taken during powwow and would like it sent to you, please email publicrelations@mwtribe-nsn.gov.
Veterans Ride Honors Wampanoag Service
Tribal veterans were honored in the 14th annual Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen, the largest gathering of motorcycles on Cape Cod, last month. Each year Big Nick's Ride for the Fallen memorializes USMC Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos and honors all fallen veterans with ties to Cape Cod as well as all Veterans past, present, and future who serve our country. There were over 1,000 motorcycles that rode from Bourne to Yarmouth for the event.
This year included recognition honoring all Native American veterans, with a special focus on Mashpee Wampanoag tribal veterans. Members of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe have served in every major conflict since the Revolutionary War.
Wunee keesuq!
Nutus8ees Jenaya “Precious Healing Star” Perry. Good Day! My name is Jenaya Perry and I am the 2023-2024 Mashpee Wampanoag Powwow Princess! I am the daughter of Steven Perry and Tina Gomes. I am the sister of Devon Gomes and Nitana Perry. The granddaughter of Marlene and Steven Perry. The great-granddaughter of Lucinda Hicks Lashley and Ed Lashley and the great great granddaughter of Amanda Stella Gardner Hicks and Lafayette Hicks Sr.
I am currently 20 years old, I graduated from Mashpee High School in 2021, I attended Framingham State University for 3 semesters and begin Nursing school in the fall with the hope of becoming a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.
Explore Additional News in this month's Nashauonk Mittark
Talia Landry, Education Department Grant Manger, successfully submitted a citizens petition to the town of Mashpee that calls for a town vote to transfer ownership to the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of 3 parcels of land, that make up what we know as “12 acres.”
The annual Rumble on the Rez will return on August 5th from 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM on Powwow Grounds. To sign up to fight, or for more details, please text 781-217-1005. All proceeds will go to the Ryan Hendricks Memorial Scholarship Fund. All are welcome to attend.
Tribal member Rob Degaetano will be making his professional boxing debut on August 4th at Polar Park in Worcester, MA. The inaugural “Punch-Out at Polar Park”- will be a thrilling showcase of New England’s finest professional and amateur boxers. Gates open at 5:00 PM and the pro card begins at 7:00 PM.
The Youth Advisory Committee is actively seeking tribal members interested in supporting tribal youth to join the committee. The main purpose of the committee is to consult with and provide input to Tribal entities and Tribal individuals who desire such consultation in order to assist them with achieving maximum coordinated benefits for Mashpee tribal youth.
T.O.R is hosting a community Healing Fire on Friday, August 4th, from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM on Powwow Grounds. The fire is open to all ages, and the event will include back-to-school giveaways, a bouncy house, and a dunk tank. For more information, please contact Naomi Frye at 774-205-5099 or Steve Bingham at 774-313-1848.
Below are a few local powwows hosted by our sister tribal nations as we continue the powwow season. Please visit the respected tribal websites for more information on attending.
Below are various employment opportunities for tribal members. For more information, please click here.
The Natural Resources Department wants to hear from you! Take this 10-15 minute anonymous survey to help us learn about the importance of local seafood consumption and community concerns about environmental contaminants. All members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe over the age of 18 are invited to take the survey, and everyone who completes the survey will be eligible to win a $50 e-gift card!
Caregivers of Indigenous Children and Adults with Support Needs will virtually meet on the second Saturday of every month on Zoom. Topics will include how to advocate for your loved one and how to navigate the system to get supports that work for Indigenous families.
The tribe is hosting an Indigenous Pathways in Education workshop through the State Tribal Education Partnership (STEP) grant. Teachers, counselors, and school administration are invited to attend and learn about Indigenous peoples’ experiences within the education system and best practices to support Native youth in school.
Tribal veterans were honored in the 14th annual Big Nick’s Ride for the Fallen, the largest gathering of motorcycles on Cape Cod, last month. Each year Big Nick's Ride for the Fallen memorializes USMC Cpl. Nicholas G. Xiarhos and honors all fallen veterans with ties to Cape Cod as well as all Veterans past, present, and future who serve our country.
Camrie Baams graduated from UMass Amherst with a Master of Public Health degree with a concentration in Community Health.
A community barbeque will be held on Saturday, August 19th from 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Powwow Grounds. The barbeque is open to all tribal members and their families. There will be a 50/50 raffle where half of the proceeds will benefit the Men’s Healing Lodge.
Tribal member Jasmyn Frye is participating in the WKA National Championship for muay thai at the Delaware State Fairgrounds. The WKA USA seeks to provide an opportunity for fighters to develop from novice class amateur fighters to open class amateurs, and then onto the professional level, through safe and competitive events.
List of Committee and Board Seat Openings
The Weetumuw School Committee is tasked with aiding the school's administration and periodically reviewing the schools educational, financial, and cultural goals and policies. The committee will be comprised of seven members, with each member serving a two-year term.
The Youth Advisory Committee is looking for interested Tribal Members to join the Youth Advisory Committee. The committee’s main purpose is to consult with, and provide input to Tribal entities and Tribal individuals who desire such consultation in order to assist them with achieving maximum coordinated benefits for Mashpee tribal youth. Please send a letter of interest (LOI) to Tribal Council Secretary Cassie Jackson at Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov if you would like to join the committee.
The Old Indian Cemetery Commission will be responsible for creating the cemetery policies, procedures, rules, and regulations to help preserve and maintain the Old Indian Cemetery. The committee will be made up of nine members comprised of the following:
The Housing Commission currently has two (2) open seats to be filled. Those who are interested may send an LOI to Secretary Cassie Jackson at cassie.jacson@mwtribe-nsn.gov
The tribe is looking to get the Education Committee back up and running. There are currently five open seats on the committee. The committee will focus on scholarship opportunities and educational programming for tribal youth. Those who are interested are asked to send a LOI and their educational background to Secretary Cassie Jackson at Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community Development Corporation (CDC) is currently seeking qualified tribal citizens to join the CDC Board of Directors. The CDC was organized to engage in activities that will promote the social welfare, economic security and community development of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and its enrolled citizens that will enable the Tribe to be self-sufficient and to provide economic support for its tribal citizens. If you are interested in serving as a CDC Board of Director, please send a letter of interest along with your resume/CV to Secretary Cassie Jackson, Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov and carbon copy mwtcdc@mwtribe-NSN.gov.
The Pow Wow Committee is looking for Tribal Members to join the Committee for a 2-year term to plan the 103rd and 104th Annual Mashpee Wampanoag Pow Wow. If you are interested, please send a letter of interest to Tribal Council Secretary Cassie Jackson at Cassie.Jackson@mwtribe-nsn.gov.