MASHPEE – Selectmen in Mashpee have restated their support for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s continued effort for getting land into trust.
The tribe is currently in a legal dispute after a lower court ruled in favor of Taunton residents who challenged the federal ruling which placed land into trust in Taunton and Mashpee.
Selectmen sent a letter to the Department of Interior expressing their support for the federal government’s remand application.
“In this new proceeding we are letting the bureau know, on the record, that we support a designation of the appropriateness of the land going into trust,” said Selectman Andrew Gottlieb.
About a decade ago the town signed an agreement with the tribe to pledge support for the tribe’s efforts to get land into trust.
“Throughout that process, whenever asked to we have provided input to the Bureau of Indian Affairs about the town’s support for the tribe’s petition,” Gottlieb said.
Gottlieb said having the land into trust in Mashpee is important for the tribe economically and emotionally.
“I think that the land that the town transferred over to the tribe back in 2008 or 2009 provides an important home base for the tribe as it seeks to do some of the work that they are looking to do with the Taunton properties,” he said.
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