Today we celebrate a legal and moral victory that brings to our Tribe justice that has been very long overdue. The United States Supreme Court announced that it would not hear the appeal requested by a small group of Taunton residents who have challenged our right to our Reservation for nearly a decade. With this final legal victory, we secure the future for the generations who come after us, and we honor our ancestors who continued the fight to have ancestral land returned to us. With this victory, we will be able to fully exercise our sovereignty to provide for our people and to preserve our culture and traditions.
The Annual Holiday Gift Card and Parent Toy Pick-up opens on Saturday, December 16, with Stop & Shop gift card pick-up from 9:00 AM to Noon at the Tribe’s Community and Government Center. Starting at 1:00 PM and continuing through 6:00 PM, tribal citizens may pick up both toys and a Stop & Shop gift card. The annual event will continue on Sunday, December 17, from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, when parents may continue to pick up both toys and a Stop & Shop gift card.
It's unfortunate that we are not focused on the beautiful display of our culture and history at the Macy’s Day Parade but rather on the actions of an individual tribal citizen. We want to make it very clear that the Tribe takes no stance on the conflicts overseas. Our Tribal Nation remains focused on the issues we face on our ancestral homeland. While we cannot speak for an individual's actions, his actions were not a Tribal decision. Our governing tribal body, along with the other tribal citizens on the float, were not involved with his actions.
A community forum will be held on Saturday, November 25, to allow the Tribal Nation to receive important details about the Mashpee Wampanoag Transitional Housing and Shelter Program and ask questions. The forum will be held from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Community and Government Center at 483 Great Neck Road South in Mashpee.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe received welcome news this evening. The First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston has ruled in favor of our Tribe. Our tribal lands will continue to remain in trust for generations to come. Tribal citizens who are with us today and our ancestors who have carried the fight for our homeland forward generation after generation. Today, we can celebrate this historic decision.
Call IHS at (508) 539-2561 to schedule a date /time to receive the vaccination. IHS staff will schedule you for your second booster at that time.
For Covid-19 resource support please contact Mashpee Wampanoag Emergency Management at: 508-477-0208 X 103
For those Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Election Candidates who wish to return their candidate packets in person to the ELECTION COMMITTEE you can do so at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center on the following days:
Monday, February 22, 2021 from 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 from 2 PM to 4:30 PM
Wednesday, February 24, 2021 from 2 PM to 3:30 PM
Young adults (ages 18 and over)
Workers in occupations important to society functioning not included in Phase 1 or 2
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Spouses and household members
Non-Mashpee Tribal members eligible for direct services
As many of you may be aware there has been a recent increase of positive Covid-19 cases within our Tribal Community. We understand that during these difficult times while our Tribal Community is grieving through such a difficult loss, it is hard to not comfort and console one another. As there is still continued community spread, it is critical to ensure that we are all still maintaining physical distancing, wearing face coverings and avoiding group gatherings especially with individuals outside of our immediate households..
It is with deep sorrow and a profound sense of loss that we send our sympathies and offer condolences to the family of Okemos Brown, son of Kendall Scott. We know he will journey safely to Creator and return to all of his People who are there. To his family and tribe left here to mourn this tragic, untimely loss, we send prayers of comfort.
The daily new case numbers in Barnstable County, surrounding counties and our Tribal Community remain high and remain in an upward trend. Yesterday alone the Mass. Department of Public Health reported 114 new cases for Barnstable County. Last weekend Barnstable County's 3-day new case tally set another new record--481 cases were recorded between 1/8 and 1/10. The Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Health Service Unit reported an additional 8 positive cases this week with additional members of our Tribal Community reporting positive cases from outside clinical testing. We have some members of our Tribal Community now in Quarantine and Isolation in addition to hospitalization.
Of concern is the large proportion of hospitalized COVID patients in the ICU on Cape Cod and it is notable that nearly all patients in the ICU at this time are on ventilators--a sobering indicator of the seriousness of their conditions. Statewide, of 451 patients in ICUs 271 are ventilated (60%).
We all must all do our part to keep all members of our tribal community safe from this deadly virus especially our most vulnerable members. We are still in the midst of a surge in cases and community spread. Please take COVID-19 very seriously and wear your masks, continuously wash your hands, avoid crowds and practice physical distancing.
If members of our tribal community need personal protective equipment and Covid-19 supplies while in quarantine or isolation, please contact the Emergency Management Department at 508-477-0208 Extension 103.
