While I listened in intently to the White House Tribal Nations Summit this week, I was reminded of a statement that President Biden made during his campaign days after the Trump administration ordered the disestablishment of the Mashpee Wampanoag reservation.
“An administration’s commitment to trust and treaty obligations to tribal nations is measured by action."
During the campaign President Biden said all the right things, beginning with a clear declaration—“I stand with Mashpee.” He called the Trump administration’s action “an incredible disrespect for Mashpee rights” and pledged to “reverse the harsh tribal policies of this administration and work to implement the priorities of tribal nations rather than work against them.”
I know Indian Country will hold him to his words—and measure his administration by its actions.
Despite more than 11 months in office, today we remain in the same place as we did the first time President Biden said “I stand with Mashpee.”
We appreciate that this administration withdrew the former administration’s appeal of Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe v. Bernhardt but that was nearly nine months ago. Since that time we’ve struggled to stabilize a Tribal Nation ravaged by the impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic with reservation lands that remain at risk creating further instability and crisis.
We’re still waiting for this decision.
Earlier this week the administration released a full report on the progress you have made to support Tribal communities. This report made no mention of Mashpee, suggesting that there has been no progress toward fulfilling the President’s promise to our Tribe.
We need a decision now. Every day that passes with the status of our reservation still in doubt results in further damage to the Mashpee people.
Mr. President, I understand you and your family plan to spend Thanksgiving—the 400th anniversary of the First Thanksgiving—on Nantucket Island, land indigenous to the Wampanoag people. I invite you to visit our reservation lands, meet the People of the First Light, and see the great & important work that needs to be done for our future seven generations.
Ahapây,
Brian Weeden, Chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
