Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Shhhhhh! It’s a secret (Wampanoag-style)


Lawyers for the City of Taunton admitted at last week’s Municipal Council meeting that Cedric Cromwell and the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe required that “some documents” associated with the City’s negotiated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) be kept secret from the City and public.  But what documents? 

Are they talking about the Tribe’s rumored new application for land in trust (LIT) – which will be a public document if and when it is ever produced?  Or are they referencing the Tribe’s negotiated Casino Compact with the Commonwealth?  That too will be a public document open for inspection.  Since both are named  of the IGA which Taunton will be bound to support they should be available to the voters and the Municipal Council BEFORE they are asked to ratify the IGA and vote for a casino.

Are there other “secret documents” to which the Mashpee may refer once they have a signed IGA with the City?  Is Cedric Cromwell holding back the alleged historical documents and deeds he claims are in his possession which somehow link Taunton land to Mashpee Wampanoag ownership?   Even though no prior evidence of such Mashpee Wampanoag claims to Taunton lands have been recorded in the hundreds of years of state history annals will Cedric claim their existence but say they cannot be produced because they are tribal secrets?  Such documents will likely be required evidence when the Tribe seeks Department of Interior approval for their off-reservation casino LIT application review.  Will such secret documents, unavailable for public inspection, lay claim to other lands in Taunton the tribe intends to take into trust-related protections from local taxes and oversight once they have their foot in the door?

Now, this isn’t the first time the Tribe has invoked its alleged sovereign but mystical right to secrecy in dealing with local government to get what they want without having to produce documents that normal business entities would otherwise be required to share.  Should Taunton expect to be treated like the Town of Mashpee’s elected officials who, when trying to determine which local town lands the Mashpee were claiming rights to take into trust and remove from local tax rolls, asked the tribe for the locations of historically significant burial grounds cited in their various claims, applications and tax-exemption appeals.  The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s response – we can't tell you, it’s a secret. 

Town of Mashpee record:

Mr. Nelson read the following article which appeared in the March 23, 2012 Mashpee Enterprise: “Typically, nonpayment of property taxes would present a roadblock for obtaining building permits in Mashpee.  Since the Tribe has appealed its tax bill to a state panel, a “stay” goes into effect, allowing it to apply for permits and enabling construction of the government center to move forward, according to Ms. Mason”.  

To Mr. Nelson’s inquiries of the location of ancestral burial places on the site, Mr. Mark Harding, Treasurer of the Tribe, explained that the location of the remains of their ancestors are not spoken of outside the Tribe.  He said that the Tribe maintains internal records.  Mr. Nelson said that “ancestral burial places – that could bring this thing to a screeching halt”.  Mr. Harding reiterated that the location of the burial places of the ancestors is a sacred secret of the Tribal Commission.  Mr. Cromwell stated that the Tribe has federal protection on the graves and the Tribe’s ancestors are re-interred on Tribal property.  He assured the Board that the Tribe would not build either on top or near the burial grounds and their ancestors’ remains would not be disturbed in any way.

Mr. Harding, Cedric Cromwell’s business partner and tribe treasurer, wasn’t being 100 percent truthful here suggesting the burial ground locations are secrets known within the Tribe.  Tribe members, you see don’t even have access to the “records” cited by Harding and Cromwell and many Wampanoag tribe members have questioned the existence of various “secret” documents claimed by Cromwell in his quest for land in trust and a casino.

If the Tribe currently refuses to pay Mashpee Town taxes and fees and declines to follow local building codes that others must obey claiming sovereignty based on secret documents, what future does that present for Taunton, MA and what other secret documents will Cedric Cromwell insist we trust "exist" while he declines to produce them?

One thing is no secret. The Mashpee Wampanoag Chairman Cedric Cromwell has a history of defaults on his local taxes, bank loans and utility bills, and under his leadership the Tribe has also not paid its local tax bills to the Town of Mashpee.  Why do Mayor Hoye and Taunton casino proponents believe all this will change when the Wampanoag move to Taunton?

15 comments:

  1. A bigger question might be why Harding & Cromwell don't want to disclose where the bodies are buried! Disagree with the tribe and you might find yourself swimming with the fishes (or buried in secret tribal grounds)!

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  2. Are these the Nagpra bones that are unaccounted for? both Mashpee and Aquinnah have made a bundle "repatriating" ancestors bones, without ever disclosing to descendants where they were found or interred. More shame....No honor.

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  3. Why would anyone want to enter into a contract under these secretive circumstances, let alone such and important, city-altering contract such as this IGA? I mean, even the Bachelor and Bachelorette have the opportunity to learn more about their prospective life-partners than Taunton ever will about the Mashpee. And look at how well that turns out.

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  4. Who is this Tribal Commission that Mark Harding speaks of ? Is is John "Jim" Peters who works for the State as the Director of Commission on Indian Affairs and is also the Chair of the Enrollment for the tribe and is on the NAGPRA for the tribe? He has been known not to let the tribe know where he reburied bones.

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    1. I'm sure Peters is knee deep...after all he works for Housing and Economic developement branch...which has that pervert(who worked for Genting in Florida...before he got busted molesting a 15 yr old boy...) negotiating with Mashpee/Genting....Peters also is the one who told them that Aquinnah gave up their gaming right....well Gov.Weld wanted gaming for Aquinnah...Then again now Patrick endorced Warren yesterday...mayby they both can join Mashpee tribal rolls???
      Peters and his sister over see NAGPRA and no reports are ever given out...they've got a Wannabee Andrew Alves of the wannabee Assonet band collecting bones in Southeastern Mass and quite alot of $$$$...no accountability!!!! Where is the outrage?

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    2. Does anyone doubt that Stan McGee got some special help from Florida politicians bankrolled by Genting to make his little pederast problem go away? What do we know about McGee's relationships with Cedric's gang and if they somehow helped pull those strings for Carl Stanley McGee to get the charges that he raped that poor 15 year old boy in the Florida resort steam room?

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    3. No doubt in my mind that McGee is a perp....and Peters has shaken his hand...

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  5. Ssshhhhh...., don't speak about "burying bones" around Mark. He'll go all blushy.

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  6. Do you mean Kenny Alves?

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  7. When the documents are available to the public, the public will see them.

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  8. See them for the liars they are and how corrupt this Admin is.Sad their own people do not know what they are talking about ,what does that mean.

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  9. It seems we are plagued with a small group of discontents and that may never change. They seem to be hell bent on embarrassing our Tribe with their unfounded accusations of lies and corruption. Quite frankly, we find them silly and sometimes take a few minutes to discuss how ridiculous they sound. But mostly we focus on the positive: trying to get our youth educated, our adults employed, peace of mind for our elders, and health care for all. Even the discontents benefit from the above. We put principles above politics. And, you might as well get used to the fact that we have survived far worse than anything this siily girl's blog has to offer.

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    1. Yeah, PaulaBrooke, you'll find out how "small" a group of "miscontents" there is. You certainly spent no small amount of time and ink in the Cape Cod Times not so long ago embarrassing the Tribe. You have never been able to prove "unfounded accusations."

      I particularly get a kick out of your "peace of mind for our elders," What has this gang done for elders except insult, intimidate, and marginalize; oh, and steal the elders' money and van. You have no principles and are all politics. This is the most narcissistic gang of kleptocrats in history.

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  10. Anonymous or should I say PaulaBrooke a small group of discontents maybe you should do a poll on this.If I recall all of the things you say were being done before everything being done in the tribe now is for a few select minions and everyone knows who they are Cedric's flying monkeys.You should be hanging your head in shame for what has happened to the tribe ,what is bad is everything that has been told is true and that is why you came out ,to try and defend yourself and this corrupt Admin.

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  11. I agree with cousin Joan and cousin Tarsides ghost for Kids education I hear some council members kids school is paid for 100% only a choice few, employment lets take a poll, how many Fryes does it take to change a light bulb ??? it seems quite a few they all wotk for the Tribal council and for education about 90% of then Fryes need a GED, Bobby no report POWWOW blame it on some one else for sure needs to get a GED because when Ceddie who he has something on will be gone and Bobby will need a real job McDonalds or do they still pump gas as for Elders they only got a trip to New York and a flea bag hotel what respect is that, good thing we brought our own money we never saw any to spend. Health care it seems every one gets it with or with out the IHS, in Ma you have to have it, with this I say wake up nothing has happen good for about over 3 years

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