Indian Hill now off limits to Roundtree, Groden
By Robin Palmer
On the heels of having their appeal of a subdivision approval for Wysteria
Way II denied by the State's Supreme Judicial Court, Ponkapoag Indian Chief
Russell (O-ee-tash) Roundtree and Christopher Groden received letters of
disinvite from the Wysteria developer John Walsh last week.
The letters told Roundtree and Groden that they were "no longer welcome on
the premises....."
The land in question is owned by Walsh Brothers Building Company. On July 3,
the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court denied the last of a series of
Ponkapoag Indian appeals to allow a developement on that site.
The town's planning board had approved the developement in 1995.
Roundtree said this week that, " As far as recourse, at this time, I don't
know of any."
The chief emphasized that the sending of the letters has ended decades of
Native American gatherings on the land that they call sacred.
"Now after 10,000 years of our oral tradition and history . . . . well, I
guess this is the last chapter to be written in the history of the Ponkapoag
....Indians," Roundtree said.
"I just don't understand why they've got to be so small and do this," he
added.
Walsh explainedthat the only reason the letters were sent was because of past
dealings with Groden. On a different subdivision the Walsh Brothers worked
on, Groden was present during the construction.
"Chris is a little rambunctious," Walsh said. "They had a little bit of a
hard time keeping him away from the cutting tools."
So for safety sake, and because Groden and Roundtree "had their day in court"
and lost, Walsh said he sent the letters last week.
Roundtree said that he is glad he tried to defeat the Walshes and keep the
land accesible to the Indians. "At least I can walk away and say, 'well,
damn it, I tried'."
But Roundtree also called the victory a hollow one for Walsh.
There is going to be great harm coming to the construction workers, the
Walshes and those who will live in those 89 houses that are to be built,
Roundtree predicted.
Roundtree said that when bones are dug up, the spirits of those Native
Americans will be called back to Earth's mother to wander forever to look for
their lost bones.
"There have been cases documented where great harm has come to those who have
desecrated," Roundtree said.
Roundtree said that he believes the letters may have been sent because
developers don't like to be watched when they work and they don't want to
have to heed burial laws, preferring to just bulldoze right through.
"If we came across a burial ground, I think we would certainly have a
responsibility to address it," responded Walsh.
Groden and Roundtree, he said never produced "a shred of evidence" that there
is a burial ground on the property, known as Indian Hill. In fact, said
Walsh, over 5,000 test holes found only a half dozen farm tools and
artifacts, which are of no concern to the Massachusetts Historical
Commission.
Roundtree said the Ponkapoags will now continue with their efforts to have
the Pequot tribe of Ledyard Conn. (which runs Foxwoods Casino) buy the land
from the Walshes.
"All I can tell you is that things are in the works to do something along
those lines," Roundtree said. "There has been talk. Things are in the
planning stages."
"If it works out, it would be a great success story, not only for us, but the
citizens of Walpole." he said.
Walsh said two weeks ago that he didn't know if he would be willing to sell
the land; it would depend on the offer.
Below is a facsimile of the letter of disinvitation sent to Chris Groden and
Chief O-ee-tash Roundtree:
Name: Christopher M. Groden
Date: 7/14/97
City/St: Walpole, Mass
Re: Letter of Disinvitation
Dear Christopher M. Groden,
This letter is to inform you that effective immediately, you are no longer
welcome on the premises at Wisteria Ways II, off East and Plimpton Streets
Walpole.
Until further notice, your presence on the premises shall amount to trespass
and you will be prosecuted.
Sincerely,
John J. Walsh
CC: Police Department
Magistrate-District Court of Western Norfolk
East Street, Wrentham, MA 02093
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