Wunee Keesuq Neetahtyâmôkanak
Good Day My Fellow Tribal Citizens,
There are two words in your language for the English word, ‘tribe’. These two words are our instructions; chupân8ôk, ‘Tribe’ it literally means the being set apart from others, being free. The other word is, Tahs88ôk, ‘tribe’ but literally to be counted among the collective. To be one collection of People.
The Mashpee Wampanoag are in fact, and have always been, a People created by Manut Creator free and separate from the world; a singular collective free to govern ourselves as we see fit and proper.
We are not a collection of mirror images of one another, however, and any one of us can lose our way. If we do, it is up to the collective Tahs88ôk, to ensure that the course is corrected and the way to free and fit government is opened.
Your tribal council is steadfast in its duties this very day and has been so. The council is meeting and carrying out the business of the Mashpee Wampanoag Nation. Daily tribal operations is being managed by a capable team as well as an appointed tribal liaison. Our finances are protected and the daily management of them continues to be managed by the team. In the coming weeks we will be examining any necessary support needed in both of these areas and developing strategies to ensure the continued smooth operation of tribal services.
We are ever mindful of the emotions we are all experiencing at this time and the financial and health difficulties being experienced by so many of us. We are also actively looking at ongoing support services needed during this pandemic and how to fill those resource needs.
As one person said several days ago, “We must be mindful of the families suffering immense emotional heartache, financial constraints, physical and behavioral health crises and historical trauma in addition to the effects of the pandemic. We need to also stay focused on stability. We need to help our citizens heal and build back the faith our People have in our Leadership.”
In the coming weeks and months, leadership will continue to work with our congressional partners and build new relationships with the incoming Biden Harris administration to ensure that our Lands remain free and within our sovereign collective.
And while these are difficult times that the Tribe is experiencing, to quote another citizen, “We have much to be thankful for. We have much to be thankful for this year. Such as our community, land still in trust even in the face of the former administration’s attempt to erase it, our language, our people moving into new tribal homes, and being showcased in this year’s Macy’s Day Parade.” Another said, “This year the river was almost black again with herring, shellfish were plentiful in the bay, and folks were hitting stripers left and right this year. Families enjoyed the bounty and Elders were taken care of…gardens were plentiful as well.”
Please remind yourself that we have much to be grateful for, that we love one another and that our business will be be looked after as it always has been and that as WE look forward to an upcoming tribal election and more prosperous and peaceful era being ushered in with the changing of US President and administration, Mashpee will remain.
Ahapây,
Vice Chair Baird
