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.”

The MWT Food Pantry will be distributing $25 gift cards to enrolled tribal members for holiday food shopping. The gift cards will first be distributed to elders on Friday, November 19 from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Beginning on Friday, November 19 at 2:00 PM and continuing on Monday, November 22 and Tuesday, November 23 all tribal members, including elders, may pick up their gift card. One gift card per tribal household. Gift cards may be picked up during the hours below at the MWT Food Pantry located at the Community and Government Center.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Emergency Management Department (MWTEMD), in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) and the Mashpee Health Service Unit (IHS), have sent out two separate vaccination surveys.

One survey is for individuals 12 years and older (General Vaccination Survey), and the other survey is specifically for parents and guardians with children 5 – 11 years of age (Pediatric).

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) has endorsed creation of a National Historic Landmark for Nantucket Sound in Massachusetts to permanently protect Nantucket Sound. This will secure traditional laws, cultures, and the way of life for the native nations that continue to inhabit their ancestral homelands. Nantucket Sound consists of 750 square miles situated between Cape Cod and the islands of Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Housing Department is seeking bids from qualified contractors for: Residential Septic Installation located in Buzzards Bay, MA. The pre bid conference will be held Friday, 11/05 at 10:00am at the resident’s site. Location for the meeting is contained in the bid package. You must attend a pre-bid conference in order to bid. Bid packages may be emailed or picked up at the Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Department Office, 483 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee, MA. Call Trevor Carrington at 508-477-0208 x150 or email trevor.carrington@mwtribe-nsn.gov for more info.

The Mystic Seaport Museum is searching for a program coordinator that will be supporting aspects of the Reimagining New England Histories Project. The position will also run a summer youth intern program and coordinate programming for the Museum’s Emerging Center for Experiential Education.

Please submit an online application at www.mysticseaportmuseuminc.appone.com. Applications are due November 19, 2021.