Reel Wamps

The Chairman is taking it mighty slow at our expense.

The election results sent a message. The Tribe wanted change. Apparently, the Chairman was in no rush. He cancelled the Wednesday Feb 15 Council meeting and scheduled one for March 8, That’s nearly a month’s delay. Instead of performing the ceremonial swearing in of the six council members, he delayed it for ten days. So, maybe it will happen this Wednesday. Who knows? And then there’s the budget.  It will be delayed again. He’s headed to an NCAI meeting, his second major trip in a month’s time. You try to figure out what this is all about because we don’t get it.

Sober House living room

 PROJECTS MOVE AHEAD, TRIBE ON TARGET WITH CRITICAL PROJECTS

The men’s sober house has been fully renovated and will be ready for occupancy in March. The home will accommodate 8 men in the 4 bedroom, two bath, house.  The house has a large Livingroom, dining room and kitchen. The live in director has an apartment downstairs. Tribal members and friends

The place is so nice you don’t want to leave.

donated the furniture, and appliances for men in recovery. Vice Chairman Carlton Hendricks, Jr. says this community partnership will help to make the program a success.  He adds that another home is set to be renovated soon.

A tour of the oyster farm (HACCP facility) is pretty remarkable. The

The facility will pump thousands of dollars into our economy.

building (60 x 60)is closed in, and the finishing touches are being made for the processing of shellfish. The latest equipment including conveyors, to sort, clean, and distribute shellfish is set for

David Pocknett, Jr. shows off hundreds of traps made by the team.

delivery. The HACCP team made the hundreds of traps that line the building. Tribal men have played a major role in building this facility that will move the tribe into the marketplace on every level. We will be competitive by producing, harvesting, and selling oysters and clams. A fish market is also on the horizon.          

The shelter for the homeless is also close to opening.  It’s another project opening to serve an urgent need.

This is what the tribal government is supposed to do. Serve. Do the work. With the new diverse Council all the weight will no longer be on be on the Wamp 5 (2 officers and 3 Council members) The 7 will help us catch up after loosing so much time and so many lives.

That was a common phrase uttered when Mashpee people reacted to a bad incident. And

Ms. Mabel Avant never, ever turned away from a fight for Mashpee.

often they were talking to Mrs. Mabel (Pocknett) Avant. Mabel Avant was quite an influencer back in the late 30’s through the 60’s. She was not only politically powerful, but our cultural guardian. And she was essentially a woman sachem.  Now in the White world, that was extraordinary. But our culture is built on a matriarchal system. We say with certainty that Mabel Avant stood alone as a defiant advocate for Mashpee. And our legendary male leaders bowed to her prowess.

During town meetings when White businessmen and speculators would try to exploit us in some way, everyone would smirk and wait for the imposing Mabel to stand up and respond to the proposal. She would start with, “Why, why?” reveal the scheme snapping it like twigs, as tribal members laughed. The perpetrators would scurry out of the old town hall never to return. So the Natives in the ” Old Indian Towne on Cape Cod” weren’t so dumb after all.

This history snapshot is important when you look at our current situation.  We resolved some terrible leadership failures only to fall into a morass led by a small group. Holding on to political power at any cost is the goal. And the moral compass is clearly broken.

Hold overs from the Cromwell régime may be in the minority but try to dominate and disrupt

Winnie’s chaos is unmatched. She doesn’t see anything wrong.

the council. Enter Winnie whose legendary tirades just keep escalating. To show you how bad it’s gotten, during the candidate’s forum, she was asked a pointed question about her behavior (the screaming, cursing rants) in council meetings and the workplace. She said something to the effect of “I don’t approve of that kind of behavior.” Boy, that went over well. The eye rolls were nonstop.

Almost as well as her pledge to give members ” per capita stipends.” Last campaign cycle it was $500 to Elders that never materialized. Campaign pledges are one thing but her obsessive attacks are embarrassing and exhausting for everyone. Her previous assaults are well known.

The majority of the attacks are launched at Vice Chairman Carlton Henricks, Jr, in Council meetings. Everyone keeps trying to figure out why these attacks are so vicious. Some of the stuff is so bad we cannot talk about it, but you probably heard. There are no secrets in Mashpee.

She’s done some doozies in the government center. A recent episode was when she worked for the Elders helping at Lunch and Learn. One day she was loud talking on her phone and a worker told her to quiet down because she was upsetting the Elders.  Well she had a fit and threw a paper bag at the woman.  She was banished from the job and switched over to the farm where she’s supposed to take soil samples and weed the garden. Sure. You could make a bundle in a pool about her upcoming antics.

The list goes on… but Miss Unbecoming is a little short on accomplishments too.   She has not advanced one project that has helped anyone. She’s the liaison to the CDC and the Pow Wow Committee to which she contributes nothing, nor does she help.

You have to wonder why she’s running because her style is public service can’t be what the Tribe needs right now.

Ain’t it awful Mabel?”