The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe has yet to obtain a building permit for a structure that was at the center of a major sovereignty case.

The tribe built a small shed and pier in the town of Aquinnah without obtaining a local permit. The Massachusetts Supreme Court in December 2004 ruled that the tribe, under a special act of Congress, waived its sovereign immunity and must comply with state laws.

The tribe and the town subsequently signed an agreement to address land-use issues. The town says the tribe is violating local zoning laws and the state building code.

Get the Story:
Aquinnah Building Inspector Cites Tribe on Building Permits (The Martha's Vineyard Gazette 8/8)

Massachusetts Supreme Court Decision:
Aquinnah v. Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe (December 9, 2004)

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