Mashpee elders revolt
I regularly read the REELWamps blog. It appears to be written by one or two Mashpee Wampanoag members and is highly critical of the Cromwell-led tribal council. You can never be sure with a blog just how much is accurate – hey look at mine – but two recent protests by tribal elders seem to corroborate some of the complaints I’ve seen on the blog. They run the gamut from mismanagement, misuse of tribal money, cronyism, and more.
The REELWamps blog includes a time line of the protests along with some rather unflattering inside information.
All this stuff is relevant to our Middleboro casino – since the tribe’s financial condition and relationship with their investors has a direct impact on the casino project. I also find it personally interesting to see how a blog and newspaper will report on the same events. While I wouldn’t necessarily believe everything I read in a blog, they often give an untold part of the story or add nuance to an issue.
Just as some Mashpee have issues with their leaders, the same is true in Middleboro. There is another similarity. These same Mashpee have issues with their tribal website – which is light years ahead of Middleboro’s. The blog describes it as the horrible embarrassing website that frightens people with the attacking turtle.. Not quite as catchy as PTWS but pretty funny.
A little background — "Reelwamps" is written by two tribe members and is a funnel for news and views collected from other members. The language and references may seem obscure at times because it has been aimed mainly at Tribe members. Humor is used as a guerrilla tactic but the issues are dead serious.
On the casino front, as far as the core of the tribe and elders in particular, it is a near non-issue at this time. We need stable and honest government FIRST, or all other activities are in vain.
I love the blog. I find it funny, direct, and pulls no punches.
Just as you have issues with your leaders, so have some of us in Middleboro. In that we share common ground.
I wish you the best in your quest for "stable and honest" government. Everyone can agree that leaders who listen to the concerns of their people is a must for any society.
An interesting comment on the latest ReelWamps blog says… "On Oct 1, the tribe is done. The investors are free and clear."
Is this the much speculated deadline date on the tribe's contract with its investors?