Currents

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Files Emergency Injunction with Federal Court

Details By Native News Online Staff April 01, 2020

WASHINGTON — Reacting to an order to disestablish the tribe’s reservation, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe on Monday asked a federal court to issue an emergency restraining order to prevent the Dept. of Interior from removing the tribe’s land trust status.

At a hearing Tuesday in the District Court for the District of Columbia, tribal officials said they learned the court will issue a formal order confirming that the federal government must refrain from disestablishing the Tribe's Reservation until the court is able to rule on the motion for a preliminary injunction.

"While the tribe is grateful for this temporary reprieve, we remain deeply concerned about the fate of our reservation," Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe Chairman Cedric Cromwell said. "That said, the outpouring of support from both the Native and non-Native community gives us hope and bolsters our courage. We thank everyone who ‘Stands with Mashpee,’ your support is powerful."

Support continues to grow for the tribe as Indian Country acknowledges that the crisis for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is another example of the erosion of responsibility by the federal government to protect land that is sacred to American Indian tribes across Indian Country.

Tribes rely on their land to provide important services to their tribal citizenry, such as housing, education, health care, and employment programs and services.

Support Independent Indigenous Journalism Native News Online is an independent, Indigenous-led newsroom with a crucial mission: We want to change the narrative about Indian Country. We do this by producing intelligent, fact-based journalism that tells the full story from all corners of Indian Country. We pride ourselves on covering the tribes you may have never heard of before and by respecting and listening to the communities we serve through our reporting. As newsrooms across the country continue to shrink, coverage of Indian Country is more important than ever, and we are committed to filling this ever-present hole in journalism.



Because we believe everyone in Indian Country deserves equal access to news and commentary pertaining to them, their relatives and their communities, the story you’ve just finished was free — and we want to keep it that way, for all readers. But we hope it inspires you to make a gift to Native News Online so that we can continue publishing more stories that make a difference to Native people, whether they live on or off the reservation. Your donation will help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount, big or small, gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you. Support Native News Online Subscribe to the daily newsletter

About The Author Author: Native News Online Staff