The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Thursday announced a final determination in
favor of recognition for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts.
Jim Cason, the associate deputy secretary at the Interior Department,
called the tribe at around 5pm. Tribal leaders and members erupted into shouts
of joy and tears, The Cape Cod Times reported.
The decision was not unexpected. In March 2007, the BIA issued a proposed
finding in favor of recognition for the tribe whose ancestors met the Mayflower.
With no opposition from the state or local governments, today's ruling was seen
as inevitable [DOI
Documents].
The tribe hopes to pursue housing, education and economic development projects. A casino is definitely on the agenda, tribal leaders said.
The tribe own 160 acres on Cape Cod but plans to seek gaming elsewhere. One site could be the 22,000-acre Massachusetts Military Reservation, Chairman Glenn Marshall said.
The tribe is now the second federally recognized tribe in Massachusetts.
The Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe completed the BIA process in 1987
Get the Story:A nation reborn (The Cape Cod Times 2/16)
'We're not going to go second best' on casino (The Cape Cod Times 2/16)
Town, tribe aim to restart negotiations (The Cape Cod Times 2/16)
'Shunned' celebrate separately (The Cape Cod Times 2/16)
Recognition, casino ... it's all good, onlookers say (The Cape Cod Times 2/16)
Mashpee tribe wins federal recognition (The Boston Globe 2/16)
'Sovereign' Wampanoags forge ahead with casino plan (The Boston Herald 2/16)
Mashpee tribe wins federal recognition (AP 2/16)
Tribe’s standing may mean a Mass. casino (The Providence Journal 2/16)
pwpwd
Mashpee Wampanoags Win Federal Recognition From BIA Tribe's Long-Awaited Victory (The New London Day 2/16)
pwday Relevant Documents:
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 Related Stories:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe wins federal recognition (2/15)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe ready to go for gaming (2/15)
Wampanoag recognition decision comes early (2/14)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe shuns critics for 7 years (2/8)
Editorial: Mashpee Tribe neglects treasures (1/31)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe sued over finances (12/19)
Pombo denies being lobbied in Mashpee recognition (10/30)
State asks BIA about failed Mashpee land claim (10/12)
Town backs Mashpee Tribe's recognition bid (10/2)
Town to consider Mashpee Tribe's recognition (9/29)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe reports progress (08/25)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe seeks affordable housing (08/09)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe discusses recognition (07/27)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to meet over recognition (07/14)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe focuses on housing (7/6)
Response: Mashpees earned federal recognition (06/16)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe to discuss recognition (6/14)
Opinion: Mashpee Wampanoags paid for recognition (06/08)
Mashpee Wampanoags see support for recognition (05/08)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe looks forward to future (04/06)
Lobbyists garner mention in recognition decision (4/4)
Mashpee Tribe avoids pitfalls on federal recognition (4/3)
Tribe anticipates big decision on recognition (3/31)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe awaits recognition (3/23)
Mashpee recongnition decision due this month (03/07)
Mashpee Wampanoag lobbying paid off in Washington (2/22)
Mashpee Wampanoag elders pass before recognition (2/20)
Mashpee Wampanoags await word on federal status (01/13)
Massachusetts tribe says scandal won't hurt case (01/05)
Mashpees call for tribe to cut ties to lobbyists (12/21)
Opinion: Mashpees disturbed by tribal lobbying (12/07)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe active in Washington (12/1)
Mashpee chair gave Abramoff e-mails to FBI (11/29)
Mashpee chairman happy with Abramoff work (11/22)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe tight on membership (10/11)
BIA assigns team to Mashpee Wampanoag petition (10/3)
Massachusetts tribe, town weigh recognition deal (09/16)
Massachusetts tribe won't make land claims (08/22)
Massachusetts tribe waits for answer on recognition (08/05)
Wampanoag teen joins tribe's Run for Recognition (07/28)
Massachusetts tribe waits for ruling on recognition (7/27)
Judge approves timeline for Mashpee recognition (7/26)
BIA proposes timeline for Mashpee recognition (7/19)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe steers clear of Abramoff (05/23)
Judge blasts BIA for delays in recognition case (02/15)
Wampanoag tribe back to court on recognition bid (2/14)
BIA opposes Pombo's federal recognition bill (2/11)
Bill addresses slow-moving recognition process (02/07)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe presses recognition bid (09/03)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe rubs elbows at RNC (9/1)
House panel sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
Federal recognition process subject of two hearings (03/31)
BIA delaying decision on Mass. tribe (12/20)
Mass. town accused of hindering recognition (10/30)
Jump in recognition petitions noted (06/12)
BIA recognition staff fails pressure test (05/31)
Wampanoag leader remembered (03/08)
