The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, gained major ground in their 31-year quest for federal recognition on March 31, when their sovereign status was preliminarily approved by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The approval is followed by a one-year comment-and-response period, during which members of the public can challenge the validity of the tribe’s claim and the tribe can answer. If all claims and counterclaims are settled at the end of that period, the recognition becomes official. To win recognition, the Mashpee had to prove that it meets the seven criteria established by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Office of Federal Acknowledgement. One of the tribe’s biggest obstacles was demonstrating to the federal government that it had continuous ties to the area. They also had to show that the 1,468 people who claim to be members of the tribe are genealogically descended from the historical tribe. The government’s preliminary pronouncement was widely celebrated by tribe members, as recognition will make the Mashpee eligible for federal assistance with education, housing, and healthcare. "This decision will ensure that our unique history, culture, and language will not die, and that the men and women who make up this tribe will have the economic tools necessary to remain in our ancestral home," tribal chairman Glenn Marshall told the Lowell Sun. If the Mashpee win federal recognition, which is considered extremely likely, they will join the Gay Head (Aquinnah) band of the Wampanoag as the second sovereign Indian nation in the state.
Editor’s note: Cultural Survival Quarterly Vol. 30-2, available in June 2006, will provide in-depth coverage on the Mashpee Wampanoags and their pursuit of sovereignty.
Related articles:
Weekly Indigenous News: Mashpee Wampanoag Runners Race for Recognition and Secure Housing
Weekly Indigenous News: Massachusetts tribe suspects local government of hampering its bid for federal recognition
Weekly Indigenous News: Massachusetts town accused of impeding tribal recognition
Cultural Survival Voices: New England Tribes Speak Out
