CapeCodToday Blog Chowder

whare are the life preservers?????? Great example!!

Whoever selected this photo doesn't know Falmouth!!! This is not the ramp at Green Pond...

Obviously,the Commonwealth didn't care if the Feds recognized the Wampanoags as Soverign as long as they don't now act the part.I would say to Deval that it's a little late to lock the barn door.He should look up the word "SOVERIGN".All these safeguards he referrs to don't apply!!

A very careful reading of the 1790 Non-Intercourse act says NOTHING about indian descendants..Skinner did not make any mistakes and the appellate process affirmed his and the Jury's findings.Otherwise his rulings would have been overturned.Only federally recognized TRIBES (not individuals) have the protection of the Intercourse Act!!

How about a little balance?. It's a fact more people die each year from the COLD than from HEAT! a LITTLE WARMING WOULD BE A GOOD THING.and BY THE WAY THE PRESENT WARMING CYCLE IS NOTHING NEW. GEOLOGIC HISTOY proves the earth has experienced it many times along with corresponding ice ages

PETER. I WAS THERE. THE MOTION TO REMOVE ALL PRIVATE PROPERTY FROM THE ORIGINAL LAND SUIT IN FRONT OF jUDGE sKINNER WAS NOT ALLOWEd. IN FACT, ANOTHER MOTION TO LIMIT THE SUIT TO ONLY LARGE PARCELS WAS ALSO made and NOT ALLOWEd. JUDGE SKINNER RULED THE 1790 NON-INTERCOURSE ACT APPLIED TO ALL LAND AND NOT JUST PARTICULAR PARCELS.IT WAS ALL OR NOTHING.The Plaintiff could not pick & choose what land they wanted.Neither can they now if they choose to bring suit.

Re: Refiling the land claims.On whom the defendents might be? This is cricial to their success stratedgy. In the first land suit every property owner in Mashpee was involved. This was like hitting a hornet's nest. The organized opposition was huge.Recognizing this mistake the TC filed a motion to limit the class of Defendents to only large land owners including the Town.This failed. The Court would not allow the TC to split the class of Defendents. It was all or nothing. The Court stated that either there was a valid land claim against all the "titles" or none at all.Now we come to the latest attempt at Landclaims. Since the BIA has affirmed a 50 mile radius as the tribes' ancestral territory, it would seem to follow that all lands within that prescribed area were alienated from the Tribe. This takes in such diverse places as all the Cape, Plymouth,Rehobeth etc.The scope of the Land Claim becomes much better understood in this context.The "Peter's" faction would rather prefer to make a limited claim to keep the opposition down. But,all or nothing is the Fed.Court rule.

Re: Ropes & Gray..Looks like it matters who you are and who's paying the bills.You can be sure it($$)isn't coming from the Tribal Council nor from Shawn or Desire's personal slush fund. One might wonder where might the funds be coming from?? Who else is at risk besides our two heros ??

RE: Hendricks & Hendricks hire lawyers: Goodness me.And look who they hire! Ropes & Grey are in the same major league ball park as was old Hale & Dorr. Wern't they that Racist bunch of lawyers who beat up on the Tribe back in the old days? I guess someone learned their lesson the hard way and decided that when you want to win you go with the best. But let's see..going rate is about $500/hour for these guys. Who's paying that fee let alone what the retainer must be. You don't suppose the Big Boys are trying to make sure their butts are well protected and nothing gets said that shouldn't see the light of day!! Looks like the shots are still being fired by the BACKERS and Scott F. and their group..Good luck Tribal Council!!!

EDITOR - This comment belongs in a post about the casino.
Please post in the proper areas.
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I have to say that if the Gov's Casino plan goes into effect what billionair investor needs the Wampanoags as middle-men in a deal with Mass? Why split the pie up further with them ? I think the Mashpees' have missed the "boat" !! And if you live in Middleboro how must you feel now ?? TAKEN ??? And of course who made out bigtime in this deal?? Struthers of course. He made all his$$$ back and then some..He took the tribe for a great ride and they get zilch..

Peter. Please tell me why most people still don't get it.It doesn't matter what the tribal councel or the town meeting votes about a future land suit. Yes, it will show intent. But it will have no legal authority behind it.The 1790 Non-Intercourse Act requires that only the US Congress can ratify such an action. If I am correct, and I feel I am, then the Selectmen along with the Trbal Council should petition our Congressional Reps to file for such approval.That's the only way to settle the land suit question forever.

Concerning a future land suit.Even if the tribe were to agree in writing not to sue in the future for Mashpee land and the Town meeting accepted this agreenment ..Only the US CONGRESS can approve such an agreement which would include all the prior land sales in Mashpee. This is required as per the 1790 Non Intercourse Act. No Congressional approval.. No good title!! BAD PICTURE.!!