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In Your Words

A message from Tribal Ambassador Don "Lone Wolf" Washington

How do we fit in with other Native American People? 

I visit other Native American functions and I tell them I am of The Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe.  I question the look of disrespect that I have recieved.

The Answer I get is the Seaconke tribed, formed in 1995, is trying to capitalize on the notoriety of Wampanoag people.  (Wannabee's)

I have heard people say"I grew up Black, Portugeese, French, Italian, Cape Verdean, Irish, etc."  "I don't know how to be Indian."

We are a mixture of races and have lived our lives as the other assimilated race.  The invasion of America by the Europeans has kept the native Americans from being who they are.  It wasn't safe to say you were native american while the families of European descent were being killed by native Americans in the west.  It wasn't respectable to say you were of African descent when that race was held in Low esteem because of slavery.  We assimilated into an accepted race rather than be crucified for what we were.  We come together as a family as a tribe to further the betterment of our native American blood.  It is not enough to say I belong to a tribe and sometimes make a meeting.  It is not enough to say I go to a Powwow once a year.  We don't have to prove we are of native American descent.  That has been done through our genealogy.  We have to be accepted by the native American communittees that carried the legacy of the Wampanoag since the invasion from Europe.  This can be accomplished by attending every native American function and make it well known that you are willing to learn the culture, the language, and about the people who have practiced and carried the legacy for hundreds of years.

Sorely needed and strongly urged is Seaconke Wampanoag Tribal People, "Individually or as groups" to participate in spreading our existence in the native American Community.  It is possible to set up a fund to pay for transportation, costs of the event, and or donations/food donations for pot lucks.  Please, get your family together and get involved.

Don "Lone Wolf" Washington

Ambassador

Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe

The words, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the

In Your Words

series are strictly those of the acredited author and not nessecarily those of this website or the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe.

In Your Words:

Donald "Lone Wolf" Washington

27 January 2008

How do we fit in with other Native American People? 

I visit other Native American functions and I tell them I am of The Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe.  I question the look of disrespect that I have recieved.

The Answer I get is the Seaconke tribed, formed in 1995, is trying to capitalize on the notoriety of Wampanoag people.  (Wannabee's)

I have heard people say"I grew up Black, Portugeese, French, Italian, Cape Verdean, Irish, etc."  "I don't know how to be Indian."

We are a mixture of races and have lived our lives as the other assimilated race.  The invasion of America by the Europeans has kept the native Americans from being who they are.  It wasn't safe to say you were native american while the families of European descent were being killed by native Americans in the west.  It wasn't respectable to say you were of African descent when that race was held in Low esteem because of slavery.  We assimilated into an accepted race rather than be crucified for what we were.  We come together as a family as a tribe to further the betterment of our native American blood.  It is not enough to say I belong to a tribe and sometimes make a meeting.  It is not enough to say I go to a Powwow once a year.  We don't have to prove we are of native American descent.  That has been done through our genealogy.  We have to be accepted by the native American communittees that carried the legacy of the Wampanoag since the invasion from Europe.  This can be accomplished by attending every native American function and make it well known that you are willing to learn the culture, the language, and about the people who have practiced and carried the legacy for hundreds of years.

Sorely needed and strongly urged is Seaconke Wampanoag Tribal People, "Individually or as groups" to participate in spreading our existence in the native American Community.  It is possible to set up a fund to pay for transportation, costs of the event, and or donations/food donations for pot lucks.  Please, get your family together and get involved.

Don "Lone Wolf" Washington

Ambassador

Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe

The words, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the

In Your Words

series are strictly those of the acredited author and not nessecarily those of this website or the Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe.

In Your Words:

Jennifer R.E. Rawlings

28 July 2006

     The United States government has made idigenous communities believe that the only way to ensure their survival in this growing world is to become a member of the limited list of federally recognized tribes.  The Seaconke Wampanoag people are people of the first light and always will be, no federal recognition from an institution that was formed centuries after our existence can confirm nor deny us as a people. 

     I feel similarly toward state recognition, but I do believe that it is a good thing to be recognized by the state in which we reside.  Although there are some positives that come along with federal recognition, such as being protected by the U.S. as well as being able to negotiate one on one with the U.S. to expand in ways that would be difficult without their support, it should not be our primary focus.

     The largest challenge our tribe faces is in our youth, there will be no Seaconke Wampanoag Tribe if we do not stress the importance of culture and idenity to the youth in our families.  If we want to withstand the test of time, traditions mussed be past on to our children as well as the importance of its significance.  To the best of my knowledge there is only one member of our tribe who can speak our traditional Algonquinn language and next summer I plan to study with him so that our language will not die.  Once I recieve the gift of language from this elder I will be able to pass it on to the rest of the tribe, especially the young ones who can keep the fire burning.

     I Also practice beadwork using traditional methods and tools, I can now do this at an advanced level.  I've made and beaded all my regalia myself with the help of my mother.  Since the practice of beading is so time consuming I have only been able to do a few things for others.  I believe in doing this I am preserving our culture and traditions.

     Our community is strong but the future lies in our children, and that is why I as a young person have made it my responsibility to help carry our tribe in to the future by retaining language, and keeping our traditions alive.  Although it would be a positive accomplishment for us to gain the support of the United States government there are many more important issues at hand, issues I hope to help solve in my lifetime.

    

    

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