Four shunned members of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts plan to appeal the dismissal of their lawsuit. The four members aren't allowed to participate in tribal activities for seven years. They say they are being punished for criticizing tribal leaders. The shunned members at first sued the tribal council but the case was dismissed after the tribe won federal recognition. A second lawsuit against the tribe's non-profit corporation was also dismissed due to sovereign immunity. The tribal members who were shunned include Amelia Bingham, who helped launch the tribe's bid for federal recognition in the 1970s. Get the Story:
March lends support to shunned tribe members (The Cape Cod Times 6/30) Related Stories:
Suit over Mashpee Wampanoag shunning dismissed (6/27)
Shunned Wampanaogs sue tribal leaders (4/29)