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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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