Today we can celebrate a legal victory that has been long overdue. The nation’s highest court has refused to hear an appeal by the Littlefield’s of Taunton seeking to reverse a lower court’s ruling in favor of our tribal lands. This was the final ruling of the case originally brought by the Littlefield’s in 2015 to deny us our right to our ancestral homelands.

Senator Markey reached out when he heard of this news and wanted to share his feelings with the community:

“I am proud to join Tribal Leadership and the Mashpee Wampanoag people in celebrating a victory against unjust attempts by the Trump administration to strip them of the land they have stewarded for more than 10,000 years. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court provides long overdue relief for tribal citizens and upholds the Department of the Interior's important 2021 decision. I pledge to continue working with the Wampanoag People and tribal communities across the nation to support sovereignty, land rights, and the fight for a livable future."

Senator Warren also shared remarks stating that:

“The Supreme Court’s decision to deny the petition for certiorari in this case rightly ensures the trust status of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s lands. I’m proud to have stood alongside the Tribe throughout this fight to ensure the preservation of their ancestral homelands.”

We have been fighting for too long to win back what was stolen from us generations ago. Now the Supreme Court has affirmed our rights in a way that cannot be further challenged or questioned.

We can now rest easy that we can exercise our sovereignty and preserve our culture and traditions on our tribal lands for generations to come!

Ahâpây,
Chairman Weeden