Martha's Vineyard Church to Co-Host “Listening Session” with Mashpee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contacts Trish Keliinui, [email protected], Mashpee Wampanoag Lisa Crisp, [email protected], First Congregational Church of West Tisbury Martha’s Vineyard Church to co-host “Listening Session” with Mashpee Wampanoag Leaders hosting event May 4thevent to respond to recent federal initiatives to disestablish their tribe MARTHA’S VINEYARD, Mass., April 28, 2020 - Chairman Cedric Cromwell and Vice- Chairwoman Jessie little doe Baird of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and the First Congregational Church of West Tisbury will co-host a listening session to discuss the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ efforts to disestablish the tribe’s reservation. The one-hour “Listening Session” will take place via Zoom on May 4 between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. For dial-in, (929)205-6099, Meeting ID: 914 2038 3777, Password: 798988 The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, also known as the People of the First Light, has nearly 2,900 enrolled citizens and has occupied the territory in southeastern Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years. The tribe has launched a #StandwithMashpee campaign on Facebook and YouTube and has received more than 271,000 signatures on a petition. “The Secretary of the Interior has ordered that our reservation be disestablished and that our land be taken out of trust,” said Chairman Cedric Cromwell. “ Not since the termination era of the mid-twentieth century has a Secretary taken action to disestablish a reservation.” Rev. Cathlin Baker, minister of First Congregational Church of West Tisbury, added, “When our church’s newly formed Racial Justice Team heard about the federal order, they reached out to the Mashpee leadership to ask how they could be of assistance. We agreed that as a first step, our congregation and community would benefit from a Listening Session. As a nearly 350-year-old congregation founded on Wampanoag land, I believe we have a responsibility to honor and secure the sovereignty of the People of the First Light.” The “Listening Session” will include: - A pre-session compilation and distribution of background materials - Pre-submission of questions so that the Tribe can directly respond to the most pressing among them - All-access, pre-registration for everyone interested in participating Questions for the tribal leadership can be submitted in advance to [email protected]. About the MASHPEE WAMPANOAG: 1 The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, also known as the People of the First Light, has inhabited present-day Massachusetts for more than 12,000 years. In 2015, the federal government declared 150 acres in Mashpee and another 170 acres in Taunton as the Tribe’s initial reservation, on which the Tribe can exercise its full tribal sovereignty rights. The Mashpee tribe currently has approximately 2700 enrolled citizens. Website: https://www.mashpeewampanoagtribe-nsn.gov About the FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF WEST TISBURY: Founded on Martha’s Vineyard in 1673, the church has been led by Rev. Cathlin Baker since 2008. It is part of the United Church Christ, whose Southern New England Conference also issued a statement in support of the Mashpee in April of 2020. Website: https://www.wtcongregationalchurch.org 2 .

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Conference Native Land Acknowledgement
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The General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts State House, Boston, MA 02133-1053
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