Disestablish Reservation Land? Contact Your Senator Today!
Updated: Oct 12, 2020
The Department of Interior removed our land during the worst possible time. As many tribal members are dealing with the day-to-day transition of working, staying healthy and homeschooling from home, now we further fill our minds and hearts with confusion and heartbreak.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has dealt with such acts of overt racism and discrimination for well over 400 years. Reminder: The “celebration” of the arrival of the Pilgrims and the Mayflower will be held this year here in Plymouth MA and many Native Americans are not partaking in the enthusiasm. And you can see why....
If this current Administration has you outraged too, support the Tribe in this fight to regain our land and contact your Senator today! Scroll down for a template letter and relevant links.
News Article:
Track H.R. 312
Senate Directory:
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
*UPDATED Letter to your Senators
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe NEEDS YOUR SUPPORT! Please email, send a letter or call your Senators office and express your dissatisfaction with their treatment of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe. Click on the link below for the United States Senate Directory, find your Senator and click on their contact link. It is easiest to cut and paste the below letter and send an email. Whichever option you choose, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!
Click here to find your Senators Contact information:
https://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm
The Honorable ___________________
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator,
I am writing to express my deep disappointment with the latest decision by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to APPEAL US District Judge Paul Friedman's decision that was in favor of the Tribe to re-establish reservation lands. As your constituent, I am urging you to support the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and vote in favor of H.R. 312 Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Reservation Reaffirmation Act in the utmost timely manner.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is located on Cape Cod Massachusetts and has roughly 2,800 tribal citizens- many of whom fall below the national and state low-income levels. Their reservation land is a critical component to continue to qualify for federal and state funding; to continue to build homes for elders, operate their language school, food pantry, emergency response departments and most importantly keep the doors open to their community and government center.
The very mission of the Bureau of Indian Affairs is to "enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunity and to carry out the responsibility to protect and improve the trust assets of American Indians, Indian Tribes and Alaska Natives", yet the Secretary of the BIA continues to betray the Wampanoag people. We think it is time to restructure the department!
This was a heartless decision made in the midst of a global pandemic without the consideration of its impact on the future of the Mashpee Wampanoag families and children. As my Senator, it is your responsibility to ensure the Federal Government is complying with their Trust Responsibility to ALL Native American Tribes and that ALL TRIBES ARE TREATED EQUALLY AND FAIRLY.
Thank You
