Another opponent is questioning whether the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts has ties to the site where it plans to build a casino.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs declared a reservation for the tribe that includes 151 acres in the city of Taunton. That's where the First
Light Resort and Casino will be located.
But the Pocasset Wampanoag Tribe claims Mashpee territory never included Taunton.
“It was our land,” Chief Edward Page told The Boston Globe.
Taunton is about 47 miles from tribal headquarters in Mashpee, where the other 170 acres of the tribe's reservation is located. The tribe raised its flag at the site on Monday.
Get the Story:
Battle brewing over tribe’s planned Taunton casino
(The Boston Globe 1/13)
Mashpee tribe members hoist flag to celebrate land victory
(The Cape Cod Times 1/12)
Wampanoag Raise Flag on Reservation
(CapeCod.Com 1/12)
Federal Register Notices:
Proclaiming
Certain Lands as Reservation for the Mashpee Wampanoag (January 8,
2016)
Land
Acquisitions; Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (September 25, 2015)
Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Fee-to-Trust Transfer of
Property and Subsequent Development of a Resort/Hotel and Ancillary Facilities
in the City of Taunton, MA and Tribal Government Facilities in the Town of
Mashpee, MA by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (September 5, 2014)
Land
Acquisitions: Appeals of Land Acquisition Decisions (November 13, 2013)
Relevant Documents:
Chairman
Cedric Cromwell Announcement | Mashpee Wampanoag Trbe Press
Release | Bureau of
Indian Affairs Press Release | Assistant
Secretary Kevin Washburn Letter to Chairman Cedric Cromwell | Record
of Decision | Attachment
I - Legal Descriptions | Attachment
II - Maps | Attachment
III - Mitigation Monitoring and Enforcement Plan | Attachment
IV - Response to Comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement
DOI Solicitor Opinion:
M-37029: The
Meaning of "Under Federal Jurisdiction" for Purposes of the Indian
Reorganization Act (March 12, 2014)
Related Stories:
Foes raise
money to fight Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe casino (1/11)
Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe ready to build long-awaited casino (1/8)
BIA formally declares Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's
reservation (1/7)
Foes
promise suit over Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's casino (12/18)
Non-Indian
casino in Massachusetts already sees drop in revenue (12/09)
Opinion:
Don't break promise to Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (11/27)
Editorial:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe moves ahead with casino (11/18)
Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe casino site finally placed in trust (11/13)