The Wampanoag tribe, the ‘Eastern People,’ were there when the Mayflower landed and, decimated by epidemics of European origin and concerted efforts by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to end their existence, they are still there today. Unlike the Connecticut tribes, the Wampanoag have no Foxwoods or Mohegan Sun to improve their economy, even though one of the five bands of the Wampanoag Nation won federal recognition in 1987 after tribal status for the nation had been ended in 1870.

A land suit in 1976 has not endeared the Mashpee Wampanoag to locals as it meant that property owners could not get mortgages or sell their homes. A jury ruled against the case in 1978 and the US Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal. Last week the Bureau of Indian Affairs settled another lawsuit, promising to make a final decision on tribal status for the Mashpee by March 2007.

For several years the Wampanoag tribe has been actively seeking land for a casino resort, as reservation lands are not a viable option. The Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods in Connecticut are two of the largest casinos in the world and the tribes that operate them have also been looking outside their reservations, with the aim of assisting other tribes in states such as California, Washington and Wisconsin to build new casinos. Recent moves by federal lawmakers seem to make Wampanoag hopes unlikely to become reality, as a congressional crackdown on what some call ‘reservation shopping’ looms.

Many Wampanoag live in areas where most of the property is occupied for only one month of the year. Whilst tourist jobs are plentiful over the holiday period, rents are high and the season short. A casino economy makes sense in this situation but anti-gambling activists will work against any such plans. The Senate Indian Affairs Committee has recently stated that off-reservation expansion could trigger a backlash against Indian gaming, and a moratorium against all such proposals has already been suggested.

The arguments over whether seeking land outside of reservations is labelled as land base restoration or reservation shopping will continue. Critics say that tribes are not entitled to land away from their reservation and have been getting more attention in Washington DC despite court rulings in 2003 that determined that tribal lands can exist beyond reservation boundaries as it is nonsensical to presume that tribal ancestors had never possessed any more. The resentment seemingly felt by many Americans over the success of tribal casinos and the antigambling lobbyists will continue to make the Wampanoag plans for self-sufficiency and economic stability very difficult to accomplish. (E-08.09.05)

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