The new chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council pledged during his campaign to unite the tribe after the previous chairman was indicted on financial crime charges. He also suggested he may direct his energies beyond the tribe’s 10-year effort to develop a casino in the city of Taunton, Massachusetts.
Brian Moskwetah Weeden was elected May 16 after a four-person race, reported news station WBUR Boston. At 28, he’s the youngest person to hold the position.
He was preceded in the role by Cedric Cromwell, who has been indicted on federal bribery and extortion charges in connection to the proposed $1 billion First Light Casino.
“We’re trying to work with the commonwealth of Massachusetts to work out negotiations and compacts to bring other economic development and revenue with the tribe,” Weeden said. “I think that gaming is the low-bearing fruit in Indian Country for tribes, and that’s why the tribe tried to go after it.
“I think it’s time for us to reevaluate that. We’re talking about 10-plus years here working towards gaming.”
He told a WBUR reporter, “We’re going to get the tribe’s affairs back in order by restoring our trust in each other. It’s been a problem in the past that our agendas and the tribal council’s agenda has been subject to the chairman. Aa the new chairman, I plan on changing that and making it the people’s agenda.”
He said he would establish a working relationship with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and other state officials, and impress upon them that the tribe must get its “fair share” in terms of “restitution, land negotiations and so on.”
The new chairman of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Council pledged during his campaign to unite the tribe after the previous chairman was indicted on financial crime charges. He also suggested he may direct his energies beyond the tribe’s 10-year effort to develop a casino in the city of Taunton, Massachusetts.
Brian Moskwetah Weeden was elected May 16 after a four-person race, reported news station WBUR Boston. At 28, he’s the youngest person to hold the position.
He was preceded in the role by Cedric Cromwell, who has been indicted on federal bribery and extortion charges in connection to the proposed $1 billion First Light Casino.
“We’re trying to work with the commonwealth of Massachusetts to work out negotiations and compacts to bring other economic development and revenue with the tribe,” Weeden said. “I think that gaming is the low-bearing fruit in Indian Country for tribes, and that’s why the tribe tried to go after it.
“I think it’s time for us to reevaluate that. We’re talking about 10-plus years here working towards gaming.”
He told a WBUR reporter, “We’re going to get the tribe’s affairs back in order by restoring our trust in each other. It’s been a problem in the past that our agendas and the tribal council’s agenda has been subject to the chairman. Aa the new chairman, I plan on changing that and making it the people’s agenda.”
He said he would establish a working relationship with Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and other state officials, and impress upon them that the tribe must get its “fair share” in terms of “restitution, land negotiations and so on.”
