Editorial: No more lies for Mashpee Wampanoags

Tuesday, August 28, 2007  

"Monday night's closed meeting of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe should be the first of many meetings as tribal members determine how to respond to the disgrace and resignation of their leader, Glenn Marshall.

This is a moment of truth for them, a time to decide, regardless of who becomes the public face of the tribe, whether they will follow a path of honesty or not. They could certainly continue in the Marshall mold, and few people would be the wiser. They could distance themselves from him in name, but not in their actions or character.

Prior to Monday night's meeting, a man described by The Cape Cod Times as Mr. Marshall's protege, Vice Chairman Shawn Hendricks, had been named temporary leader. If Mr. Hendricks and a majority of the tribe support their former chairman, as a petition reportedly circulating through the group would suggest, then they will undoubtedly continue to spin the truth in whatever way advances their case for a casino.

But lies are unnecessary. Though the idea of casino gambling in Massachusetts is controversial, the tribe's plan for Middleboro has gained significant support, and we in this space have conceded a casino could stimulate the region's economy. It would certainly provide a vehicle for the descendants of the colonial-era Wampanoag to acquire land and improve their economic status."

Get the Story:
OUR VIEW: Tribe doesn't need lies to move forward (South Coast Today 8/28)

Mashpee Casino Agreement:
Intergovernmental Agreement (July 2007)

Relevant Documents:
DOI Final Determination | Summary of Acknowledgment Cases | R. Lee Fleming Declaration

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Relevant Links:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com

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