Raising Our Chiefs: A History of Leadership
Tribal Elder Ramona Peters has seen a lot in her day; she's seen our leaders come and go. With the talk of raising a new chief circulating in the community, questions have arisen about how that process works. I sat down with Ramona one afternoon to gain a little insight on how we've previously chosen our chiefs, the Mashpee way.
When asked about our Chiefs, she started with Earl Mills Sr.
It was Ramona’s understanding from her parents that Earl Mills Sr. was "appointed" so to say, by Ms. Mabel "Nakoomis" Pocknett Avant. She was a woman known for her persistence when it came to getting tribal members from all families involved in both town government and positions of leadership within the tribe. Back then, tribal families lived closer together; given the small community, everyone knew each other well. There was no confusion on who had the leadership skills to fulfill the Chief's role properly and care equally for everyone. According to Ramona, this made things quite simple, and when Earl was first appointed, it just made sense.
When the community raised our next Chief, Vernon "Sly Fox" Pocknett, he was one of the only candidates Ramona recalled who was considered for the position. The community met at 55 acres, and the majority of the people stood behind Vernon, a traditional way of voting to show their support for him as Chief.
After the passing of Vernon Pocknett, the tribe looked to who could bridge the gap that was left in our community. Ramona recalled there being more community involvement this time around, with varying opinions on who should be Chief. Vernon Lopez "Silent Drum" was the recommended candidate by the Elders' Committee, and a community vote took place on 55 acres. Vernon was selected to be Chief, but given his humble nature, he was weary of his ability to fulfill the role. A Chiefs Council was created to support Vernon in any way he may have needed while he served in his position.
Our Chief Vernon Lopez is now 100 years old and is growing tired. He has requested that a new chief be selected in a proper and traditional way to supersede him. Currently, the clan mothers are taking the lead on this process, asking for community members to recommend to them someone in their family who they see could be fit for the role. Once candidates are recommended and decided upon, there will be a vote at 55 acres. Ramona's wish is that the person chosen is not agreed upon for any superficial reason but rather based on someone who is already prominent in the community with a traditional mindset. As we look to the future, it is important to look to our past practices for guidance as to how we wish to move forward.
By Dasia Peters
