The Pluralism Project at Harvard UniversityCenter Profile
Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) (2009)
Wampanoag (People of the First Light) (Native religion)
20 Black Brook Road
Aquinnah MA 02535
Phone: 508-645-9265
Fax: 508-645-3790
Websites:
About
In 1972 the "Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc." was formed to promote self-determination, to ensure preservation and continuation of Wampanoag history and culture, to achieve federal recognition for the tribe, and to seek the return of tribal lands to the Wampanoag people.Description
Federal Recognition
In 1987, the Gay Head Wampanoags received federal recognition, the only tribe in Massachusetts to do so. Such recognition has been extremely important to the tribe, bringing with it the return of tribal lands, federal grants to build housing and administrative offices, and strengthening its rights to repatriate tribal property stolen from them.Tribal Council and Services
The Tribal Council includes Tribal Chairperson Beverly Wright, Vice Chairperson Gladys Widdiss, Treasurer Stephanie White, Secretary Eleanor Hebert, Chief Running Deer Donald Malonson, Medicine Man Luther Madison and seven other elected members. The Gay Head Wampanoags have several departments, including: Education, responsible for scholarships, assuring that Wampanoag history is taught accurately in schools, and running a reference library; Health, providing a clinic, contract health services, community health outreach and injury prevention programs; Human Services, which maintains child welfare, social worker services and elder services; Natural Resources; and Economic Development.Events
The tribe organizes an annual spring social, a pageant of the Legends of Moshup, and a Cranberry Day celebration is held on the second Tuesday of October. Please call for a seasonal schedule.
Date Center Founded
1987
Membership
Currently there are 1,134 enrolled members as a whole - 302 in the Dukes County services area and 107 in the town of Aquinnah.
Ethnic Composition
Gay Head Wampanoags