Introducing the Secretary's Broadcast: The Secretary's Broadcast is a space to update the Tribal Community on liaison duties, initiatives, and general communication for tribal members coming from the Secretary’s Office. 

Broadcast 2/5/26

A lot has been happening since the last Secretary’s Broadcast update. We attended the National Congress of American Indians annual conference where our Chairman was re-elected as the 1st Vice President. You can find my travel report with more details here.

Tribal council has been meeting continuously with operations in order to pass the annual budget in a timely manner. Unlike past administrations, the 2026 Budget has been balanced and approved by Tribal council within the first month of the year. The Treasurer continues to work on the community presentation in order effectively communicate the information to prepare for the budget vote for this March Sunday general membership meeting. This is a positive step forward in the right direction for a more efficient government operations that does not continue to work in the habit of borrowing what we don’t have.

Throughout the months the Secretary’s office has been working on different budgeting and funding opportunities for our identified needs within delegated projects. Some of the grant applications the office worked on included a HUDD grant opportunity for the Community Development Block Grant for Indian Tribes. This grant allows for facilities buildings upgrades and renovations. In working coordination with the housing department, we were able to strategically apply for HUDD grants for facilities through this opportunity and for the First light homes project in another HUDD opportunity. This was a positive step with moving forward cohesively within operations, identifying priorities and strategizing with the available opportunities.

In partnership with USET and the facilities department manager, we were able to successfully gather the information in time to submit all the necessary information for the application to cover the need for the HVAC unit replacements. The HVAC Units in the community and government center are becoming outdated, to a point that will not be repairable because the parts are becoming discontinued. The units have been failing over the past year, creating unsafe working conditions for employees within those areas. This need was identified during our grant budgeting process as a cost that is above our indirect cost generation that finances the facilities and administrative duties. We applied for $900,000 with 20% going to indirect costs. This has been budgeted to effectively cover the costs of replacing the 5 HVAC units that are in need the most.

We were also able to partner with the Barnstable County Commission within a farm to school USDA grant opportunity. The opportunity put our application for the Weetumuw School on the same submission as the Mashpee Public School’s . This application included a pilot program called sea to school. Within our submission we allotted monies to help with incorporating the First Light Oyster Farm within the tribal school curriculum and food options. We hope to hear on this grant submission by June of 2026.

In partnership with the MA Department of Health, the Secretary’s office hosted a site visit with representatives from MA DPH Division of Community Engagement, MA DPH Division of Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention, Native American Lifelines, Mashpee Wampanoag Indian Health Services, Kinship Heals, MA Attorney General’s Office, Community Engagement and Anti-trafficking Unit, Environmental Justice Division, and Energy and Environment Division. This was a fruitful conversation where tribal leaders, tribal police, and tribal court was able to present to the State departments on Tribal jurisdiction and current tribal challenges. We treated the visit as a networking roundtable where we were able to learn about each department with current tasks and how it relates within Indian country. The education of tribal jurisdiction, tribal law, and how it pertains to state jurisdiction and issues that it can create for executing a timely case successfully.

This was a great opportunity for tribal leaders to network amongst state employees on common goals. State initiatives can also support tribes and tribal members within jurisdictions so partnering can only benefit our access to resources and opportunities.

The youth council have been diligently working together to gather and plan for their upcoming goals. The group held their annual elections this past December and were sworn in by Chairman Weeden. Congratulations to Chairperson Storam Coombs, Vice Chair MisquaWahan Strickland, Secretary Anaiya Daley, Co-Treasurer Aiden Andrews and Co- Treasurer Jaxson Gonsalves. These youth are strong leaders that are eager to help the community and grow. They helped with the Christmas events hosted by the Elders and Youth Advisory Committee. Their focus has begun to be budget planning and fundraising for the Annual Unity Conference in July hosted in Oklahoma City. It has been some time since Youth council has been organized enough and able to afford to participate in this annual conference. We are confident in their fundraising efforts for our youth to get the entire council to experience this conference. It is a great opportunity for the youth to learn about youth council initiatives, as well as unify with other tribal youth leaders across Turtle Island. Currently, the youth will be selling concessions at the Mashpee Girls Varsity Basketball Game February 10th at the MWT Community and Government Center. All proceeds from the entry of this game will be donated to youth council as well. It is $5 per adults and $3 for students over 6 years old. They are selling carnations until February 9th for tribal employees and elders. Family members and loved ones can use the google form to order their carnations for any tribal employee or elder. There is an option for delivery or pick up. Cash is accepted at the MWT Community and Government Center Front desk.

Then, they are hosting their first Youth Ball for $10 a ticket on February 28th from 3- 6pm. The activities are geared towards youth age 12 and under, but all youth are welcome. You can purchase tickets on their event brite link Winter Wonderland Youth Ball Tickets, Sat, Feb 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM | Eventbrite

Make sure to bring some cash as there will be options for further purchases. Formal wear is encouraged and food will be provided.

The Natural Resource Commission will be hosting an aboriginal rights roundtable discussion this February 25th at the MWT Community and Government Center. This is one step towards the efforts of opening dialogue with more local municipalities and enforcement agencies within our ancestral homelands. We hope this is just the start to a beneficial working relationship with different municipalities on ensuring our ability to exercise our aboriginal rights without impendence. The commission recognizes there is a lack of education of our rights to these municipalities. Along with communication of any education of those rights though transition of leadership in these organizations. It is an ongoing relationship that needs to be worked on in order to gain recognition and respect.

The Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) facility is 95% successfully completed within construction and equipment installation of this project. The Economic Development grant is gearing to close out, as we complete the final reports and drawdown requests. This asset of the nation is critical within our food sovereignty and the responsibility of our aquaculture farm. First Light Oyster Farm is the largest grant area in the state and the tribe has held responsibility over it since the 1970’s. Is allows us to grow oysters and quahogs, teach the younger generation the skill to farm and harvest, helps clean nitrogen from Mashpee Waters, and is a step toward economic sovereignty.

If properly planned the shellfish farm can grow the majority of the inventory that can be cleaned and processed through this completed HACCP Facility. This will allow the nation to market our fish and sell directly to consumers, wholesalers, and restaurants. This increases our sale price of each fish allowing us to gain the most profit from our product. It also opens up the opportunity for further tribal nation to nation partnership, when trying to strengthen our food security through food sovereignty. This facility still needs organizational documents and procedures in order to be able to open to the public. There is a few legislative items the tribal council should pass in order to safely operate on trust lands. It also lacks funding sources, so within these preparations of procedures and structure, it will be presented as an investment opportunity for the nation to pursue economic development outside of gaming.

Unfortunately, the shelter and transitional housing program will be paused as of March 31, 2026. The Plaza del sol property will be fully analyzed and a new program will begin to be developed. Currently, renovations on 4 units is underway. As these units continue to be renovated the rest of the building will take inspection in consideration when determining how to move forward. The congressional $1 million dollar ear mark has made its way on the THUD FY 26 Appropriation bill and is awaiting a final vote from the House and Senate. We are hoping to be very mindful and strategic within this next roll out of this tribal property. As we learn from our mistakes, we will continue to make the best decisions for the entirety of the Wampanoag nation.

Looking ahead, the Secretary’s office will be attending the Annual Reservation Economic Summit this March. It is an exciting opportunity to network with native nation economic enterprises and learn the successful trends happening in Indian country. After leaving RES, I will be heading straight to California to the Annual Bioneers Conference with the Native Environmental Ambassadors. This non-governmental organization has been supporting the Mashpee NEA with rights of nature initiatives since our inception in 2023. We love attending this conference to connect with other indigenous youth in climate advocacy. It exposes the tribal youth to the Berkeley College Campus. And it open an opportunity to network and grow with climate change professionals throughout the world.

The Community Development Corporation has received positive feedback on the Cannabis Survey released to the community. The board will be taking the next steps in rolling out more education on this initiative. The ongoing initiatives are still a priority of the board including Solar Energy, Broadband infrastructure, and the Fish Light Fish Market. This board still needs directors, so if you are a dedicated tribal members 25 years and older, that has a background in business, finance, management, or marketing, so please submit letters of interest to myself at Talia.landry@mwtribe-nsn.gov.

This has been a fast-moving year since officers have been elected. A lot of things have started to get rolling while other started rolling faster towards a positive direction. We are excited for what this year holds for the nation and will continue to work diligently on the successes for our future. Sovereignty and self-sustainability is on the forefront of this administration’s agenda and it is looking very positive.

Upcoming Events:

Sunday, February 8 – 10 am – Mashpee River Talking Circle – MWT Community and Government Center

Sunday, February 8th – General Membership - Ethics Committee Nominations

Tuesday, February 10th – 5:30 pm – MMHS Girls Varsity Basketball Game – Senior Night- Proceeds support Youth Council – MWT Community and Government Center

Thursday, February 19th – 6:30 pm – Natural Resource Commission Meeting

Saturday, February 28th – 3 – 6 pm – Youth Council Hosts the Youth Ball- MWT Community and Government Center

March 8th- General Membership - 2026 Annual Budget Vote

March 21- 26th - Annual Reservation Economic Summit (RES)- Las Vegas, NV

March 26-29th – Annual Bioneers Conference – Berkely, CA

March 28th - MWT Annual ball – Coonamessett Inn, Falmouth, MA

Broadcast 10/15/25

Summer has come to an end and it has been a busy summer! From expanding the gaming operations to over 200 machines and the new weekly Amplified Weekends debut, First Light Casino has been rocking, due to the hard work of the MWT Gaming Authority and supporting staff.

On the Mashpee home front, we have been working diligently to work towards community engagement and identifying key issues towards developing our strategic plan. Through the Secretary’s Office, there are many moving projects have been chipping away. A lot of government freezes and shutdowns have effected about success within being awarded grants. Different programs have been shut down, and we can no longer service our members within those same areas. Directors and grant writers continue to work diligently on finding new opportunities and getting creative within applications to meet objectives.

The 105 Leasing deliverables have been executed and ready for submittal. This program allows for the tribe to be reimbursed by the federal government for spaces utilized for grant funded programs covered within specific federal contracts. The work that was started and not completed has been submitted and ready for award for year 2023, 2024, and the beginning to the 2025 and 2026 submission. Therefore submittal will continue to take place as long as the funding continues.

I was fortunate enough to be accepted within the 2nd annual Tribal Leadership Academy through Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. The Academy is competitive week long program for tribal leaders to attend expense free in efforts to support the Ivy League’s founding mission of educating Native Americans.

The program consisted of workshops led by Indigenous professionals that provided information with real life practical sessions to put the education to practice. Leaders brought real initiatives and challenges from our communities and were given the space to strategize on efficient efforts for our nations. We all brought different areas of expertise and all meet leaders who have experience in the initiatives that we were trying to accomplish. Over 25 nations were represented within in cohort, all with different government structures that proved to be more then beneficial to learn more about. You can find my complete travel report here.

The Mashpee Wampanoag Native Environmental Ambassadors successfully hosted our 1st Indigenous Rights of Nature Symposium. the youth hosted indigenous youth, elders, and culture keepers representing over 20 native nations. The week long gathering facilitated fruitful conversations on protecting our natural relatives and provided our mashpee homelands as a space for unity across Turtle Island.

The youth hosted panels with native leaders in this conversation while engaging with other tribal youth to strengthen efforts within their communities. The gathering brought our nation together with our relatives to share traditional stories and cultural similarities. From the pond, traditional clambake, ceremony, to the traditional village site at Maushop farm, the youth showed our native relatives the good ol’ mashpee. Elders from Mscogee Creek, Choctaw, Ponca, Nipmuc, and Mashpee were vital in connecting the spirituality and traditions within our gathering, giving the youth the purpose for the advocacy and why Indigenous peoples are the voices in this fight. Find more on the symposium here.

The Natural Resource Commission is back and meeting regularly as we prioritize our natural relatives and aboriginal rights. The fishing season, brought some legality impedance on our members. We continue to fight to ensure food sovereignty for our future generations. The group is working towards developing more tribal stickers, initiating intergovernmental meetings, and begin the internal legal work of our aboriginal rights in order to combat consistent impedance by outside governments. Each case is an attack of our rights and an effort to define our sustenance to be regulated by the outside.

The Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Point facility has been revived. We have successfully completed 80% of the project with a fast approaching deadline in November to purchase big equipment purchases through an EDA grant. We are actively meeting to create relationships in order to secure funding through different programs in order to connect the facilities to the Town’s water main line. 

As well as update the septic for the entire farm. Through the different efforts to revitalize this project, we have come a long way to correct major construction issues, purchase big equipment, pay back general funds, and begin to see a completion within the near future. The Secretary’s Office is doing the due diligence in researching in order to prepare an adequate operational budget that includes the shellfish farm to present for potential investment from Tribal Council. While simultaneously working closely with the Natural Resource Department and grant writer in getting creative to apply for operational grants for the shellfish farm. We have been able to get creative within our use of the building as well. As the water from cleaning the fish is run through separate holding tanks, we will be purchasing a pump systems in order to water the vegetables in the greenhouse and outdoor community garden. These efforts in completing this facility will create an economic engine for the tribe. While providing the business structure for tribal fisher’s to safely create individual economic revenue. This creates the avenue for our tribal fishers to execute our sustenance without having to adhere to state regulations within purchasing a commercial fishing license.  Once the HACCP facility is open for business in order to sell to the public, tribal fishers can sell their fish to the market, and the Tribe can then sell tribally grown and harvested fish directly to restaurants, the public and different markets.

As we move forward into this unfriendly U.S. Administration, we will focus on our sovereignty and sustainability. Keep looking forward to reports from the Secretary’s office with project updates and upcoming community events that the office is working on. The need to gather has become more and more necessary to gain community unification.

Stay well with the winter months approaching. Share the season of harvest within the community of passing down knowledge to the youth and making sure elders are fed and visited. We thank the creator every day for all things, Thankful for this season of harvest, thankful for the sun rising each day, thankful to keep the fire burning, thankful offer tobacco and cedar.

Secretary Landry 
(508) 477-0208 Ext. 154
Talia.Landry@mwtribe-nsn.gov