Wampanoag Tribal Council Rescinds Cromwell ‘No Confidence’ Vote

MASHPEE – The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council has rescinded its recent vote of no-confidence in Chairman Cedric Cromwell.

The council also voted to reinstate Cromwell’s fiduciary responsibilities, according to a statement released by the tribe Thursday night.

“Now that we’ve had time to look at this more carefully, based on evidence and documents, the Tribal Council made a conscious, collective decision to reinstate the Chairman’s power back,” said Tribal Council Secretary Ann Marie Askew.

“We didn’t do this because he asked us. We did this on our own. We worked it out and we are tired of beating a dead horse.”

The no confidence vote last month appeared to be driven by a published report that Cromwell and his estranged wife were having financial difficulties, including a large tax debt.

“There is no evidence of any financial impropriety on the part of any tribal officer. Our ancestors are twisting in their graves over people running to the news media to try and divide us. United we stand. That’s the kind of people we are,” said Askew.

The council voted unanimously 7-0 at its Wednesday, Feb. 6 meeting to rescind its previous no-confidence vote.

They also voted 7-0 to reinstate Chairman Cromwell’s financial duties as Tribal Council Chairman and President of the Tribe’s Gaming Authority.

The tribe has been pushing for passage of a bill in Congress that would re-establish their tribal lands in Taunton and Mashpee.

That designation was put into doubt after residents who live near the tribe’s planned casino in Taunton convinced a federal judge that the way the Interior Department took the land into trust was flawed.

Chairman Cromwell said that while it was painful to see his credibility questioned, he remains committed to moving forward in an effort to protect the Tribe’s ancestral homeland.

“Since our reservation has been called into question by those who are trying to use the courts to undermine our sovereign rights, as well as the subsequent decision by the Interior Department to reverse its 2015 decision to hold our land in trust, it’s been one of the most trying times for our people in recent memory,” said Cromwell in a statement.

“Of course it’s painful for personal attacks and innuendo to be flung in my direction, but this struggle is bigger than me or any one person. So I will continue to fight for my people as best as I know how.”

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