Mashpee Wampanoag Scores Major Court Victory

MASHPEE, MA — The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe scored a major victory in its years-long battle for sovereignty. A federal judge on Friday ruled against the Interior Department's decision to disestablish the tribe's reservation.

According to U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman, the Interior Department incorrectly applied its own guidelines when determining the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe did not qualify for land-in-trust status.

He said the department's 2018 decision was "arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion and contrary to law." Friedman sent the case back to the department to reconsider and reevaluate the evidence, telling the department they cannot take any action to remove the tribe's trust until after the reconsideration process, the Cape Cod Times reported.

"We all share a profound belief in the importance of tribal sovereignty as a vehicle to preserve and protect our culture and traditions," tribe Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a statement on the tribe's website. "This is what has driven our people to fight day in and day out to ensure our land remains in trust. Today, the D.C. District Court righted what would have been a terrible and historic injustice by finding that the Department of the Interior broke the law in attempting to take our land."

A spokesperson for the Interior Department said they the department is reviewing the decision and its options to proceed. The statement also said the department "remains committed to upholding" its "trust responsibilities to Indian Country."

Cromwell said he is pleased with the decision but admitted the fight is far from over.

"While we are pleased with the court's findings, our work is not done." Cromwell said. "The Department of Interior must now draft a positive decision for our land as instructed by Judge Friedman. We will continue to work with the Department of the Interior — and fight them if necessary — to ensure our land remains in trust."

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