The U.S. Court of Appeals this week delivered a sharp, clear message to the Wampanoag tribe — it has the right to operate an electronic bingo parlor on protected tribal lands.
The federal government Wednesday recognized the tribal status of the Gay Head Wampanoag Indians in a historic decision that opens the way to settlement of the bitter, 12-year-old land claim dispute.
One week after the bill was laid on his desk, acting Gov. Paul Cellucci yesterday signed into law the change that has been awaited by the Island’s smallest town since almost a year ago. The governor’s signature made it official.
The town of Gay Head is no more; long live the town of Aquinnah.
As the Aquinnah tribe presses its case in federal court to open a gambling hall on the Island, it has been granted an extension to repay $1.1 million in federal funds used to build a community center that’s targeted for the casino.
The Wôpanâak Language Reclamation Project, based in Mashpee, plans to co-launch a language immersion preschool next fall, a major milestone in its efforts to revive the language.
When the call to duty came, Gay Head sent 23 of its sons to World War I, a larger percentage of its population than any other town in New England. All able-bodied men volunteered to serve.