WampaGate

The battle for the soul of the tribe

Are we outsiders, or are we neighbors?

By Peter Kenney

Everyone on Cape Cod, everyone in Middleboro and probably everyone in Massachusetts have a stake in how this tribe governs itself Vernon Lopez, chief of the Mashpee Wampanoag, stood before assembled members of the tribe under a full moon in August of this year. As his statement was read regarding the Glenn Marshall situation and shunning of tribe members, the notion that the newly recognized tribe wanted to live as agreeable neighbors within the broader Cape community was clearly stated. This has been the constant theme expressed by the chief for many years and it is apparently the general feeling within the tribe. For some in the tribe, however, nothing could be further from the truth.

A healthy tribal structure is everyone’s concern
From the time capecodtoday.com first revealed the ugly truth about the criminal, military and financial history of then-tribal-council-chairman Glenn Marshall there have been comments posted here asking in acid terms what makes outsiders think they have the right to pry into tribal affairs. We have written about the shunning of Amelia Bingham and four others; the federal grand jury probe into tribal affairs; and the ugly internal situation, which finds the tribe’s membership rolls held secret from the tribe’s members even while long time members are removed and curious newcomers are added. Everyone on Cape Cod, everyone in Middleboro and probably everyone in Massachusetts have a stake in how this tribe governs itself. And, as neighbors, we should be concerned and supportive of a healthy tribal structure.

Alarm and curiosity about outside interests
As a federally recognized tribe the Mashpee Wampanoags are a sovereign nation. They are governed by a constitution of their own making and a tribal council whom they elect. News of how their constitution and elections have been weakened and controlled by outside financial interests should be viewed with alarm, both by members of the tribe and by everyone else -- their “neighbors.” If we non-Indians should butt out, shouldn't we at least be allowed some curiosity about the white man from Boston, the paid political mouthpiece who claims to speak for the tribe? And what about the woman who is known as Steven Smith on the Wamp Facts Blog? She is once again enrolled as a Mashpee. But this is after she resigned from the rolls and used deceptive methods to gain membership in the Aquinnah tribe. They later tossed her out along with her mother. How credible is she and what is her role internally? How much does she have to say about how the tribe functions and how it deals with the sovereign state of Massachusetts and the sovereign municipality of Middleboro.

If non-Indians are supposed to deal with the Mashpee as a sovereign nation, and not as neighbors of a tribe whose ancient culture has finally been shown its due respect, then we should ask to see the credentials of all those who speak for the tribe. Middleboro and the Commonwealth should demand satisfactory proof that all agreements and contracts involving the tribe have been fully disclosed to the full tribal membership and have been executed only after approval by the majority. Otherwise, what is to prevent a political revolt within the tribe sometime in the future from causing these contracts and agreements to be nullified?

Green hearts: Indians and outsiders alike
The practice of throwing opposition members out of tribes involved in gaming ventures is widespread across the country. The nearby Narragansetts of Rhode Island have recently seen 200 members removed from the rolls by tribal leaders; an entire Narragansett family is no longer on the rolls because it opposed the leadership of its own tribe. If this continues there is a fear that the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs might step in and demand an explanation for this apparent corruption of the tribal system. Federal recognition can be revoked, withdrawn by Congress.

The irony of the situation is incredible; tribes that fought for years to prove that they even exist to gain federal recognition are now refusing to recognize as members people who simply disagree with tribal leadership. To this outsider this seems not to be the Indian way. As the wise Indian saying goes, beware the man with the green heart. This means Indians and outside exploiters alike; greed is a basic and democratic human failing.

Political brutality silencing legitimate dissent
If tribes continue to crush internal dissent and continue holding their deals with non-Indian financial interests secret from their members, why should we trust them, our Indian neighbors? If the Glenn Marshalls of the world continue to make deals with the Sol Kirzners of the world and use political brutality to silence legitimate internal dissent, how much worse might they do to outsiders who want only fair dealing? Once again white outsiders are effectively exploiting Indian tribes and weakening their cultural integrity.

The casino is the new buffalo and the hard-won property holdings of the tribes are now up for grabs in the high stakes world of gaming. Today’s General George Armstrong Custer would be armed with a calculator and contracts. His regiment would consist of lawyers, accountants and lobbyists.

If not neighbors, then what?
This outsider is concerned and I am not the only one. If I am not to be a neighbor, but someone to be treated as a foreigner, there will be different rules. I continue to support the notion that this ancient and honorable people should be sovereign and I continue to say that they should gain whatever economic advantage they can. The archives of capecodtoday.com attest to this. But to be told that I have no right to be concerned about the clear corruption of the tribal process and the power non-Indian outsiders will gain over matters of general concern to all citizens of the Commonwealth is unacceptable. Who do Sol Kirzner and Bill McDermott think they are? They are not Indians and they have no separate sovereignty. And who made this guy Scott Ferson untouchable? No, no -- just let me know -- are we neighbors or not?

Then again, being an agreeable neighbor in the presence of people such as Glenn Marshall or Gayle Andrews? No.