The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe will be staging a walk in Washington DC to protest a recent federal government decision that could lead to the loss of its sovereign reservation. The Mashpee Wampanoag Land Sovereignty Walk and Rally will be held on Wednesday, November 14 at 10:00 a.m. and will go from the National museum of the American Indian to the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC.

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council Chairman Cedric Cromwell put the call out to the tribes across the country on Tuesday, October 23, in an effort to protect the tribe’s land and received unanimous support from a national tribal body.

On October 6 the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe staged a walk through part of the Tribe’s ancestral homeland in Mashpee. The walk ended with a rally at the Tribe’s powwow grounds

The Mashpee Wampanoag Housing Department is pleased to announce it will once again run the “Home Rehabilitation” Lottery. The lottery awards three homeowners that are also members of a federally recognized tribe that live within the Tribe’s service area up to $15,000 to complete needed home repairs. Applications for the “Home Rehabilitation” Lottery are being accepted now through Thursday, January 31, 2019.

On Sunday, October 14 the Mashpee Wampanoag Youth Council elected a new slate of officers to lead the council over the upcoming year. At the annual elections, which were held at the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center, tribal youth elected Abigail Peters, Chairperson; Iyano Fermino - Vice Chairperson; Taylor Rose, Co-Secretary; Troy Stewart, Co-Secretary; Kobi Howerton, Treasurer; Amiyah Peters, Female Representative; Ceasar Hendricks, Male Representative; Jenaya Perry, Youth Council Member; and DJ Peters, Youth Council Member.

On Saturday, November 24 the sounds of an intertribal social – complete with drumming, singing, round dancing and the hum of good conversation – mixed with the smell of home cooked dishes will fill the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Community and Government Center as the Tribe will be hosting its annual fall social. The potluck social will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. in the gymnasium and is open to all tribal citizens, family, friends and neighboring tribes

The Mashpee Wampanoag Health Service Unit are offering walk in flu shots every Wednesday during the month of November. Simply stop by the Health Service Unit any Wednesday during the month between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to receive your flu shot.

The Revolution had come and the 13 colonies were fighting for their independence from Great Britain. Wampanoag Isaac Wickham left his wetu in the then-“incorporated district” of Marshpee (this original spelling containing the letter “r,” used until it was changed by the state in 1870) to fight for the Americans.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is suing the town’s Conversation Commission, claiming the commission did not consider tribal aquaculture resources when issuing an order to the owners of Gooseberry Island identifying the types of wetlands in the area, according to court documents.

The Health Connector’s OPEN ENROLLMENT starts November 1st –December 23rd 2018. This is the time when you can choose to renew or change health insurance plans for 2019. In general, if you keep paying your monthly premiums, you can renew for 2019 into:

• Your current plan, if it is available in 2019, or

• A similar plan, if your current plan is not available for 2019.

A rebuilt Attaquin Hotel, a restored parsonage, and a basketball court at Attaquin Park are among some of the projects the Mashpee Planning Board discussed as future possibilities for Community Preservation Act funds—some of which may become reality sooner rather than later.

Tribal Citizens along with family and friends from the community are invited to attend the 9th Annual Native American Thanks Giving on Saturday, November 17. The annual event, which is coordinated by the Old Indian Meeting House Committee, will open at 11:00 a.m. at the Old Indian Meeting House with an opening ceremony and prayer.

The Old Indian Meeting House Committee would like to thank everyone that participated in the annual Ancestor’s Day ceremony last month.

Recently the Old Indian Meeting House committee received an anonymous donation in memory of the Frye family. It was comforting to know that the members of the Frye family that have passed on to the spirit world are still being remembered. Thank you to all that made that donation possible.

United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) release of an additional $136,483,517 of Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding to Massachusetts. This funding, which includes $204,725 for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, follows a letter sent by Senators Warren, Markey, and 38 of their Senate colleagues earlier this month calling on HHS to release LIHEAP funds as quickly as possible.

12 different tribal nations from the Nuclear Energy Tribal Working Group (NETWG), as well as reps from the Department of Energy, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and the National Conference of State Legislatures spent two days touring Mashpee and the surrounding service area last month. The group toured the Plymouth Nuclear Power Plant and parts of the Tribe’s ancestral homelands in Mashpee during the two-day meeting.

Myron “Ricky” Hendricks enjoyed his last day in the Tribe’s Department of Public Works on September 21, which just happened to be his birthday. Ricky was the Maintenance Specialist in the department. He is looking forward to spending more time with his wife Robyn, daughter Meagan and Grandson Shayne. He’s also planning on traveling more in his spare time. Thank you Ricky for you dedicated service to your tribe.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the STEEP Superfund Research Program presented a screening of the documentary film The Devil We Know on October 16. The screening was co-hosted by Massachusetts Breast Cancer Coalition, Association for Preservation of Cape Cod, and Barnstable Clean Water Coalition.

The Medicare Open Enrollment period runs through October 15th through December 7th 2018. During this time period is when all people with Medicare can change their health plans and prescriptions drug coverage for the following year to better meet their needs.