Artist's rendering of proposed First Light Resort and Casino. Image from Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe
Jessie "Little Doe" Baird, the vice chairwoman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, apologized for comments she made at a casino hearing last week. Baird referred to opponents as "xenophobes" and "skinheads" and "NIMBYs" at a Bureau of Indian Affairs hearing on Tuesday. The comments sparked outrage in Taunton, where the $500 million First Light Resort and Casino has seen support. "On behalf of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, I want to convey my sincerest apology to anyone who was offended by my comments at the DEIS hearing at Taunton High School," Baird said in a statement, The Cape Cod Times reported. "No offense was meant toward casino opponents, the people of Taunton, or city officials. I was referring to the types of comments other tribes' land-into-trust applications have received in the past. The comments were directed to the Bureau of Indian Affairs regarding the land-in-trust comment process, which lasts 45 days." The Citizens for Equal Rights Alliance, an anti-Indian group, opposes the casino. Get the Story:
Tribe's VP apologizes to Taunton (The Cape Cod Times 12/7) Some Opinions:
Hal Brown: On the Mashpee Wampanoag controversy: What Jessie “Little Doe” Baird left out (The Barnstable Register 12/9)
Frank Lagace: Apology can’t erase underlying hatred and racism (The Taunton Daily Gazette 12/7) Federal Register Notice:
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Fee-to-Trust Transfer of Property and Subsequent Development of a Resort/Hotel and Tribal Government Facilities by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (November 15, 2013) Related Stories:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe clarifies comment at casino hearing (12/6)
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