Thanks, Patrick, for providing this info. I just want to add a note
apropos your final comment:
> .......................................................... For those who
> don'tknow, 'Wampanoag' is basically the same as 'Mashpee', the native people
> of Cape Cod (the town of Mashpee used to be their reservation) who in 1979
> lost their struggle to be recognized as a 'tribe'. Without such recognition
> they have no legal standing to file land claims. My mother, who grew up on
> the Cape, told usthat had they asked for the town during the 1940's most
> people would have been willing to just give it to them, as it was the poorest
> section.
I was involved with several pieces of litigation after 1979, trying to
undo the effects of that decision -- which was certainly an anomaly in
several ways.. but that's a long story. Here are some books that folks
who would like to learn about the situation at Mashpee can read:
Jack Campisi, _The Mashpee Indians: Tribe on Trial_ (Syracuse
University Press, 1991) -- a new book by one who participated in the
original trial.
Paul Brodeur, _Restitution_ (Northeastern University, 1985) -- a book
about the land claims of the Mashpee, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot.
Russell Peters, _The Wampanoags of Mashpee_ (Nimrod Press, 1987) -- a
book by one who is a leader in the Mashpee community and beyond.
BTW, the Wampanoags of Gay Head were "recognized" by the federal
government a couple of years ago; and the Mashpee Wampanoag are
currently involved in a federal recognition petition....
-- Peter d'Errico phone: 413-545-2003 Legal Studies Department fax: 413-545-1640 University of Massachusetts/Amherst 01003 dErrico@titan.ucc.umass.edu