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.
Tribal students in grades pre-k through 4 may attend the Seequn/Spring Vacation Camp from April 20-23. Registration for the camp opens Thursday, April 1. The camp will be open to 24 students.
To register, contact Kitty Hendricks-Miller at (508) 477-0208 ext 143 or cell (774) 208-1455 or email gertrude.hendricks@mwtribe-nsn.gov.
The Town Seal Committee was established by the Board of Selectmen following the May 2019 Town Meeting upon successful petition to redesign the Mashpee Town Seal. Today's Town Seal is not reflective of Mashpee's history and is seen as a symbol reflective of the genocide of Native People. The Town Seal Committee, in order to propose an updated design that recognizes and honors the Town's history, its culture, and that which makes Mashpee unique, seeks your input.
The Election Committee is disappointed by the recent ruling by the Mashpee District Court. The Election Committee is striving to implement the decision of the Mashpee Tribal Council for the election in a safe and secure manner that ensures that all tribal members have the opportunity to vote in this election. Yesterday’s ruling only causes additional confusion in an already confusing situation. The Election Committee will be filing an appeal and it hopes that the Mashpee Supreme Court will correct the error of the District Court and ensure that all members are allowed to vote in a safe and secure manner. The Election Committee strongly encourages tribal members to not discard the ballots they have received in the mail. The Committee hopes the Mashpee Supreme Court will quickly bring clarity to this election.
