Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah)

Information about this center is no longer updated. This data was last updated on 22 October 2013.

Phone: 508-645-9265
Email: chairwoman@wampanoagtribe.net
Website: http://www.wampanoagtribe.net/Pages/index

Federal Recognition

In 1987, the Gay Head Wampanoags received federal recognition, the only tribe in Massachusetts to do so. Such recognition has been extremely important to the tribe, bringing with it the return of tribal lands, federal grants to build housing and administrative offices, and strengthening its rights to repatriate tribal property stolen from them.

Tribal Council and Services

The Tribal Council includes Tribal Chairperson Beverly Wright, Vice Chairperson Gladys Widdiss, Treasurer Stephanie White, Secretary Eleanor Hebert, Chief Running Deer Donald Malonson, Medicine Man Luther Madison and seven other elected members. The Gay Head Wampanoags have several departments, including: Education, responsible for scholarships, assuring that Wampanoag history is taught accurately in schools, and running a reference library; Health, providing a clinic, contract health services, community health outreach and injury prevention programs; Human Services, which maintains child welfare, social worker services and elder services; Natural Resources; and Economic Development.

Events

The tribe organizes an annual spring social, a pageant of the Legends of Moshup, and a Cranberry Day celebration is held on the second Tuesday of October. Please call for a seasonal schedule.