Amid Crisis Tribe Files Emergency Injunction with DC Court

Yesterday, the Tribe asked the District Court for the District of Columbia to issue an emergency restraining order to prevent the Secretary of the Interior from taking the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s land out of trust. A move that will simply delay the decision by Secretary Bernhardt to terminate the Tribe’s land in trust.   

The Tribe understands from a court hearing held this afternoon that the court will issue a formal order confirming that the federal government must refrain from disestablishing our Reservation until the court is able to rule on the Tribe’s motion for a preliminary injunction. 

“While the Tribe is grateful for this temporary reprieve, we remain deeply concerned about the fate of our Reservation,” said Chairman Cromwell. “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 other Tribe’s acknowledge 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 Native American Tribes. Sacred land at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument and the Tohono O’odham Nation Reservation are other instances of the federal government balking at its responsibility to Native Americans. Tribe’s rely on their land to provide culturally based education, modern health care, food and housing.