Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe facts for kids
| Mâseepee Wôpanâak | |
|---|---|
| Total population | |
| 3,200 | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
 United States ( Massachusetts) |
|
| Languages | |
| English, Wampanoag | |
| Religion | |
| traditional tribal religion | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| other Wampanoag people |
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is a Native American tribe in Massachusetts, United States. They are one of two federally recognized tribes of Wampanoag people officially recognized by the U.S. government. This recognition happened in 2007. Their main offices are in Mashpee on Cape Cod. The other recognized Wampanoag tribe is the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on Martha's Vineyard.
The tribe provides its own health services, police force, court system, and education programs for its members. As of March 2024, about 3,200 people were enrolled as citizens. In 2015, the U.S. Department of Interior officially set aside 170 acres in Mashpee and 150 acres in Taunton, Massachusetts as reservation land for the tribe.
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A Look Back: History of the Mashpee Wampanoag
The Algonquian-speaking Wampanoag people have lived in what is now Massachusetts and Rhode Island for thousands of years. They were among the first Native people to meet English colonists in the 1600s. The Wampanoag controlled a large coastal area. Over centuries, the Wampanoag and English people shared cultures and sometimes married.
English colonists began settling near the traditional Wampanoag community in Mashpee in the 1630s. This area was known by Native names like Marshapoag. In 1660, a missionary named Richard Bourne helped the tribe secure their land rights. In 1665, the Wampanoag asked the colonial government to make Mashpee a "praying town." This status offered some protection from the English Crown. It helped tribes keep their homelands, but also introduced English laws and changed traditional Wampanoag life.
After a conflict called King Philip's War (1675–1676), many Wampanoag people were moved to praying towns like Mashpee on Cape Cod. The colonists designated Mashpee as the largest Native American reservation in Massachusetts. The name "Mashpee" comes from the Native name Mâseepee, meaning "large water." It refers to Mashpee/Wakeby Pond, the largest freshwater pond on Cape Cod.
In 1763, the British Crown declared Mashpee a "plantation." This gave the colonial government more control over Wampanoag land. The Wampanoag could elect some local officials, but they were still under colonial rule. The Wampanoag population decreased due to new diseases and their lands being taken.
After the American Revolutionary War, in 1788, the state took away Mashpee's self-government. They appointed five European-American overseers to manage the tribe. In 1837, a Pequot preacher named William Apess helped the Mashpee Wampanoag protest peacefully against these overseers. This led to serious disagreements with the governor. The overseers' rule also resulted in more Wampanoag land being lost.
Many Mashpee Wampanoag people have African ancestry. This is because Black and Wampanoag people married each other starting in the 1700s.
Changes in the 1800s
In 1834, the state gave the Wampanoag some self-government back, but they were not fully independent. To encourage European-American farming, the state divided some of the tribe's shared land in 1842. About 2,000 acres of their 13,000-acre property were given out in 60-acre plots to families.
Laws were passed to stop European Americans from taking Wampanoag land, but these laws were not always enforced. Settlers also took wood from the reservation. The Wampanoag had a large area rich in natural resources, which other settlers wanted. This led to more conflicts between the Mashpee Indians and their neighbors.
In 1870, the state officially made Mashpee a town, even though the tribe voted against it. Mashpee Wampanoag people held all positions in the town government until 1967. As more European Americans moved to Mashpee, the Wampanoag eventually lost control of the town government. Today, most tribal citizens still live in and around Mashpee. Many Wampanoag men also worked on whaling ships in the 1800s. The tribe continues to share a common culture and identity.
Modern Era: Recognition and Growth
In the early 1900s, tribal members Ebenezer Quippish and Nelson D. Simons helped bring back cultural traditions in Mashpee. They also worked to restore the Old Indian Meeting House.
Starting in the 1970s, the Mashpee Wampanoag began working to regain their political power. They sought official federal recognition from the U.S. government. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council, Inc. was formed in 1972. In 1974, the Council applied for recognition from the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It was challenging to prove their continuous existence since first contact with Europeans. However, the Mashpee Wampanoag had always kept their culture alive.
In 1976, the tribe filed a lawsuit to reclaim their ancestral lands from the Town of Mashpee. A court ruled that without federal recognition, the tribe could not pursue this land claim. The tribe continued its efforts for federal recognition for three decades.
Finally, on May 23, 2007, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe received formal federal recognition as a tribe. This was a huge step for the community.
Recent Developments
After gaining federal recognition, the tribe continued to work on important projects for its people. In September 2015, the U.S. Department of Interior officially took 321 acres of land in Mashpee and Taunton into federal trust. This established these areas as a reservation for the Mashpee Wampanoag. Tribal chairman Cedric Cromwell said this was "a reclamation of land that was once ours."
There were some legal challenges regarding the reservation land. However, a U.S. District Court ruling in June 2020 ordered the Department of Interior to keep the land's reservation status. In February 2021, the federal government decided to stop its legal challenge against the Mashpee lands, confirming their reservation status. In December 2021, a ruling from the Department of the Interior gave the Mashpee Wampanoag "substantial control" over their land.
In May 2021, Brian Weeden was elected chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag’s Tribal Council. He is the youngest person to hold this important position.
In 2024, the Herring Pond Wampanoag Tribe received state recognition from Massachusetts. The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe celebrated this, calling it "a monumental day for the entire Wampanoag Nation." The two tribes consider themselves "sister tribes."
Being a Mashpee Wampanoag Citizen
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council has rules for who can become a citizen of the tribe. To enroll, a person must show they are descended from recognized citizens. They also need to live in or near Mashpee and be active in the tribe's community.
Currently, new membership enrollment is paused.
Land and Community Projects
After becoming federally recognized, the tribe explored ways to create economic opportunities for its members. One idea was to build a casino on their land. Native American gaming operations are regulated by federal laws, like the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. This act has rules about building casinos on lands acquired after a certain date. The tribe faced some challenges because they had lost control of their lands due to historical actions by colonial and local governments.
In November 2011, Massachusetts passed a law allowing up to three resort casinos in the state. The Wampanoag were given a special opportunity to develop plans for a casino in the southeastern part of Massachusetts.
The tribe proposed building a large casino in Taunton, Massachusetts, about 48 miles from Mashpee. This project aimed to bring jobs and revenue to the tribe and the region. By 2014, the tribe was working on environmental studies for the Taunton property and for administrative offices in Mashpee.
The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe secured financing for their casino plan from the Malaysian Genting Group. This project also received support from various political leaders.
In 2025, a welcome center for the First Light Casino development opened in Taunton, Massachusetts. This center, featuring slot machines, gives a preview of the future casino.
Establishing Reservation Land
In September 2015, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, approved the tribe's request to place 321 acres of land into federal trust. This created the Mashpee Wampanoag reservation. This included 170 acres the tribe already owned in Mashpee and 150 newly acquired acres in Taunton. This action gave the tribe special jurisdiction over these lands.
A group of property owners in Taunton filed a lawsuit in February 2016, challenging the tribe's plans for a casino. They argued that the government could not take land into trust for tribes recognized after 1934, based on a Supreme Court decision. However, the City of Taunton supported the casino project.
Despite these legal challenges, the Mashpee Wampanoag began developing the Taunton site.
In July 2016, a U.S. district court ruled that the Bureau of Indian Affairs had gone beyond its authority in taking the land into trust. This decision was upheld by the First Circuit Court of Appeals in February 2020. On March 27, 2020, the administration at the time announced it would remove the reservation designation. However, a federal judge blocked these actions. The new administration later dropped the appeal. A December 2021 ruling from the Department of the Interior confirmed the Mashpee Wampanoag's "substantial control" over their land.
Notable Mashpee Wampanoag People
- Joan Tavares Avant, an author and historian.
- Jessie Little Doe Baird, a linguist who works to revive the Wampanoag language.
- Sonny Dove, a professional basketball player who is in the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame.
- Mwalim, a talented musician, writer, and educator.
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