Opinion: Who controls Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe?

Thursday, May 24, 2007  

"Many of your subscribers have read in your paper the interviews by your reporters quoting statements by Scott Ferson, identifying him as the Mashpee Wampanoag spokesman. According to the tribal tax returns, he is not paid by the tribe. It should be perfectly clear that he does not speak for our tribe, but rather for Tribal Council Chairman Glenn Marshall or investor Herb Strather.

Most of his comments are not approved by our tribe, nor is he authorized to speak for us. He may be representing Glenn Marshall, who perhaps assumes that he alone is the tribe. Or then again, I doubt seriously if he is aware of many interviews by Mr. Ferson.

As far as I know, Mr. Ferson has not discussed his interviews with the tribe, and he has not been a regular attendant at tribal meetings. In fact, the Tribal Council chairman does not feel that it is necessary for him to attend such meetings. My question is, what are his responsibilities to our tribe? So how is Scott Ferson recognized as the Mashpee Wampanoag spokesman? He was not nominated nor voted by our Tribal Council to be our legal spokesman. So who hired him?

When we read in the papers that we are purchasing land in Middleboro, knowing that we do not have funds for such a large investment, it is a surprise to us and embarrassing to see the picture of a totally strange man on the front page signing documents for purchase of land that we did not know about, claiming the purchase as approved by the tribe.

Mr. Ferson states that the tribe is negotiating with the selectmen and the town of Middleboro without our knowledge, obviously representing someone else and using our tribal name. Perhaps Mr. Strather and Glenn Marshall consider themselves as the tribe, and we don't know it until we read about it in the papers.

They tell me that you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth, but isn't it necessary for us to be well informed about our government, to know what is going on and how it will affect our future?"

Get the Story:
Amelia G. Bingham: Casino interests taking over tribe (South Coast Media 5/24)

Relevant Documents:
DOI Final Determination | Summary of Acknowledgment Cases | R. Lee Fleming Declaration

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Relevant Links:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com

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