Advisory Committee Members: Don Barnaby, Eva Blake, Charles Desmond, Anne Foxx-Whitford, John Sly Fox Oakley, Autaquay Peters, and Len Rose.

Founder and Director: Burne Stanley-Peters

Newsletter Contributors: Michelle Denault, Claudia Fox Tree, Anthony Silva and Burne Stanley.

Results of the MCNAA Social, Potluck & Scholarship Drawing

MCNAA held its annual winter social & potluck supper on Saturday, January 28, 2006 at the VFW Hall in Middleborough. The gathering of MCNAA's native friends to share food, conversation, music and dance made for a spirited evening. MCNAA's President as well as many Board Members were there to greet people as they arrived and to facilitate the evening.

It was nice to see our esteemed elder Anita Great Star as she was able to grace us with her presence.

The highlights of the evening were many. There was a plentiful assortment of indigenous foods including rabbit stew, venison stew, quahog chowder, and moose as well as dishes cooked with black bear, buffalo, sea duck, and ostrich.

Both before and after eating, many of the Native youths and adults danced to the uplifting drumming and singing of the Iron River Singers and the Mystic River Singers. The evening was topped with the Stomp Dance led by Jonathan Perry in which many of the dancers grabbed their rattles and invited others to participate.

Perhaps what made this Social even more unique this year was an idea by Burne to personally invite the Native students and to issue the semi-annual scholarships through a drawing. All of the students are recipients of the Native American Tuition Waiver through the Commission on Indian Affairs. This was a two-fold opportunity as it gave all of us a chance to see and meet some of our future leaders as well as for them to realize there are many Native people within the Native Communities in the Massachusetts area who are willing and present to help them achieve their educational goals. And it is hoped that once they attain their goals they will consider giving back to their community.

On behalf of the MCNAA Board, I would like to thank all those who attended and helped make this event an enormous success. We hope to be able to continue this tradition in the years to come.

For those of you who were not able to attend, I would like to share with you the results of the Scholarship Drawing. Also, for those of you who were present amongst the 200+ tribal friends, you may not remember the results of the drawing so this information may be of interest to you as well.

Here is the information on the four Native American students whose names were drawn and the amounts of their award:

• Callie Daniels, Mashpee Wampanoag, attending Roxbury Community College - $500.00
• Dawn Kennedy, Cree, attending U Mass Amherst - $250.00
• Alexander Miller, Mashpee Wampanoag, attending Cape Cod Community College - $300.00
• Ashley Molokwu, Mashpee Wampanoag, attending Massasoit Community College - $750.00

Even though we had students from various tribal nations, three Mashpee Wampanoags and one Cree tribal member won these scholarships through the Chief Red Blanket Scholarship drawing. The students can use the funds for college-related expense (books, meals, transportation, etc.)

The drawing was a lot of fun and everyone had a great time. We hope you'll be able to attend the next drawing and join the fun.

MCNAA Wish List

Motor Home/Trailer: Many unexpected things happen at our pow-wows and outdoor events that require immediate attention whether they be security, first aid, or a resting place. It would be helpful if MCNAA could address these issues immediately by having a central location on-site. This will also allow the MCNAA Committee Members to be easily accessible to other participants and the public and also to have an overnight presence at the weekend events. A motor home or trailer in good, useable condition would help resolve this need. We are, therefore, asking if you or someone you know has a motor home or trailer that could be donated to MCNAA for this need/cause. If so, please contact us.

Newer Truck: MCNAA currently is using a 1985 Chevy cube van to transport equipment for our cultural arts events. We have been able to patch and keep it running for the last 14 years however we are worried about its road worthiness for the next couple of years. We would feel safer if we had a newer vehicle of the same approximate size that would require less upkeep and expense. If you or anyone you know can help us by donating a good useable vehicle, MCNAA would be most appreciative.

Office Equipment & Supplies: MCNAA has an on-going need for updated computer equipment and laser printers. With this fast evolving technology, we would prefer the equipment to include flat panel monitors, newer CPUs, and current laser printers. Additionally, we can always use printer ink cartridges and postage stamps.

Other News & Info In and Around the Region

Haffenreffer Museum of Anthropology (HMA)

Travel around the country with HMA members as they explore five different Native American cultures, including the Wampanoag, the Eskimo-Inuit, the Hopi, the Kiowa, and the Nez Perce. Campers will learn through crafts, games, music, and objects. 401-253-8388

Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers, A New Play by William S. Yellow Robe, Jr.

This compelling new drama asked audiences to consider racial and cultural identity, while maintaining a compassionate view of the complexity of mixed race heritage in America, and the Native community. Grandchildren of the Buffalo Soldiers revealed the historic clash of two fiercely proud cultures, pitted against one another by westward expansion. The play depicted the homecoming of Craig Robe, grandchild of an African American buffalo soldier and a Native American woman. Ridiculed as too black to be Native, the Robe family has struggled for acceptance not only by their Montana tribe, but perhaps more importantly, by each other. Seeking community, Craig turned to those whose blood runs through his veins.

Into The Spirit World

Mary was born in Boston and lived in Brockton and Holbrook before moving to Mashpee 34 years ago. She earned an associates Degree in hotel and restaurant Management from Cape Cod Community College. She was instrumental in Mashpees first Native American Education Program and was dedicated to tribal recognition and Mashpee tribal history of the 1600s and 1700s. She was a master gardener and an avid photographer.

She will be sorely missed by all who knew her and her generous spirit. She was a kind and thoughtful person.

Massachusetts Tribe Received Recognition Decision

Chairman Glen Marshall responded: "We have always believed that the truth of our petition would be recognized, although it has been a long and hard struggle. This decision will ensure that our unique history, culture, and language will not die, and that the men and women who make up this tribe will have the economic tools necessary to remain in our ancestral home."

Chief Vernon Lopez said: "History in one respect now comes full circle. Our ancestors, as a sovereign nation, met the Mayflower, and that meeting led to the birth of this great nation. Today, our government has reaffirmed this status and the faith of that first meeting. But in another respect we are today who we were yesterday; the keepers of an important American story, one that was in danger of dying out, but has been given a new birth."

The tribe held a press conference that day at 4:30pm to announce the decision to the public. This ruling sparks a 210-day comment period. A final decision will be issued by March 31, 2007.

Winona LaDuke Visited the University of Massachusetts Boston

On Monday, April 24, 2006, Ojibwe/Anishinaabeg activist and former vice-presidential candidate Winona LaDuke spoke at the University of Massachusetts Boston to an audience of students, faculty, and tribal members. Opening Remarks were offered by Chancellor Michael Collins.

Ms. LaDuke is a Native American activist, environmentalist, economist and write. She works on a national level to advocate, raise public support and create funding for frontline environmental groups. During this symposium on Indigenous Rights in North America Recovering the Sacred, Ms. LaDuke touched on a number of points that included:

• U.S. education is Euro-centric with a flavoring of multi-culturalism. Imagery of the U.S. is Euro-centric as well. This is seen in cases such as Mount Rushmore which many people are familiar with.
• Spiritual places and their significance - like the Black Hills.
• U.S. roads that are named after people who are 'recognized' as heroes but are in fact, most cases, murderers.
• The White Earth Land Recovery Project. They have been buying back land for the reservation, they meet KYOTO protocol for lower emissions that there are several states that are voluntarily meeting KYOTO emission standards to add to a global climate change.
• Native Harvest - which is the name of her company that grows and sells wild rice. Also, how they are treating people effectively with diabetes on her reservation with buffalo meat and organic wild rice.
• The importance of changing to fuels such as ethanol and implementing wind turbines for energy for Native people in particular.

Later that afternoon, Ms. LaDuke joined a number of Native educators at Harvard Universitys Peabody Museum in a panel discussion about the unique challenges faced by tribes in the Northeast. Ellen Lutz, Executive Director for Cultural Survival, moderated the panel. In addition to Ms. LaDuke, the panel was composed of Carmen Lopez (Navajo), Executive Director for the Harvard University Native American Program; Anne Foxx (Mashpee Wampanoag), a MCNAA Advisory Committee Member; Linda Coombs (Aquinnah Wampanoag), Director of the Native American Indigenous Program at Plimoth Plantation; Jim Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag), Executive Director for the Massachusetts Commission of Indian Affairs; Ramona Peters (Mashpee Wampanoag); and Liz Hoover (Mohawk/Micmac), a PhD. candidate in environmental education at Brown University.

Questions for the panelist to address included: What does it mean to live in Indian Country?, What does it mean to be invisible, yet highly visible?, What does federal recognition mean? Responses evoked much interest and questions from the audience who waited until the end for their opportunity to ask questions of the invited panelist.

Ms. LaDuke concluded the roundtable discussion with some final thoughts and questions for us to ponder. We have a covenant with the land. How do you determine your destiny? What's the future going to look like in terms of language, energy, education, and religion? Who will be in charge of that? What happened when greed came to Indian country is that we are throwing folks off the rolls so we dont have to share money. How does it happen that our tribal government moved from How can we protect the environment? to How much will it cost to protect the environment? It's not the paper [that matters], it's how you live life in a community.

Mass. Center for Native American Awareness, Inc. was one of the co-sponsors for this event.

Vt. Governor Signs Law Recognizing Abenaki

The Governor of Vermont signed a law Wednesday granting recognition to Abenaki Indians, a move long sought by tribal members who celebrated with drumming, song and prayer on the Statehouse steps.

Supporters said the law makes tribal members eligible for college scholarships, grants and the right to sell crafts labeled as Native American. They also said the state's validation of the existence of the Abenaki and all American Indians in Vermont will help to overcome any prejudice against them.

"It's really all about the children," said Jeff Benay, chairman of the Governor's Advisory Commission on Native American Affairs. Not only will children have more educational opportunities but they will "not have to fear being ridiculed on the playground. That's all behind us now," he said as the crowd of about 150 clapped, cheered and shook traditional rattles.

"It's a celebration of Vermont's cultural past, present and future," Gov. James Douglas told the crowd. The bill "recognizes an important piece of our history."

Detractors feared state recognition would lead to federal recognition and possibly land claims and gambling casinos in Vermont, but the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs recommended against federal recognition in November.

At least 1,700 Vermont residents claim to be descended from Abenaki Indians who populated parts of New England, New York and Canada for hundreds of years before Europeans arrived.

The Abenakis have been some of the least educated and poorest of Vermonters, and "see education as the great equalizer," Benay said.

In 1976, the tribe also won state recognition, but the ruling was rescinded after the state Supreme Court questioned its constitutionality.

On Wednesday, April St. Francis Merrill, chief of the Abenaki Nation Missisquoi Sokoki band, carried a framed photo of her father, the late Abenaki Chief Homer St. Francis, and Thomas Salmon, who was Vermont's governor in 1976.