This September, Trump’s Interior Department told the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts, one of the first to encounter the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century, that they did not meet the definition of “Indian” and their land could not be put into trust.
According to the tribe, the decision threatens the dissolution of their reservation status. And according to the Huffington Post, “this is the first time that land held under special status for tribes has been taken out of trust since Harry Truman’s presidency.”
Mashpee and other tribal groups are asking us to fight back against this attack on Native rights by supporting HR 5244 / S. 2628, The Mashpee Reservation Affirmation Act, which would prevent the Interior Department from dissolving the tribe’s reservation status.
Let’s send emails in support of this bill to our representatives this weekend:
https://www.murray.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contactme
https://www.cantwell.senate.gov/contact/email
https://jayapal.house.gov/contact/email
https://adamsmith.house.gov/contact
SAMPLE EMAIL: “Dear [Senator/Representative],
My name is [NAME] from [CITY]. This fall the Trump Administration went after the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, threatening their community and their funding and denying that they meet the definition of “Indian.” Please support HR 5244 / S. 2628 The Mashpee Reservation Affirmation Act, which would prevent the Interior Department from dissolving the tribe’s reservation status.”
