Arguments For
The cape cod Indian
groupings in Mashpee land
are flexible, significant
movement across
territories. They are
related.
Doesn’t mean a loss of
Indian spirituality. It’s just a
way to survive colonialism.
Created de facto
reservation. Status of town
forced on it in 1869.
You can be fully a citizen
and fully Indian.
Mashpee = refuge for
misfits, refugees, and
marginal groups. They are a
natural alliance against
dominant white society.
Intermarriage did not
dilute purity of Indian
blood bc ties still
maintained through legal
and social structures.
Majority of Mashpee
people voted against
township status 1869.
Many petitions centuries
before, but had to concede
to the state.
Did not assimilated. But
was forced by govt. policy
that favored tribal
termination and dispersal
of collective lands.
No political need to display
their indianness, they know
who they are. Just bc they
are not visibly Indian
doesn’t mean they’re not.
Basis Arguments Against
The Plague The community gathered at
Mashpee was not a tribe. They
came together as a political
response to an emergency, the
plague. Community created from
Indian survivors.
Conversion to Christianity Indians gave up their old ways for
the new faith. They stopped
consulting “powwows”. They
dressed in new ways, washed
differently, altered child-rearing
practices. Not a tactical
accommodation but a new belief.
Plantation Status Mashpee’s progress towards
citizenship slow bc they were
prejudice towards Indians and
lacked civility. They are part of
Massachusetts.
Taking Colonists’ Side They fought metacomet, an Indian
tribe. They sided with George
Washington, this showed they
identified with white society.
Intermarriage It’s so intermixed that there is no
more pure Indians. There is no
“imagined community” of the
Mashpee group.
Township Mashpee not ready for citizenship.
Need outside help (capital and
resources), lead to transfer of town
lands to outsiders.
Assimilation Mashpee showed interest in being
part of the Wampanoag nation in
the late-20s.
Went to bureau of Indian affairs to
get themselves recognized “tribal”
unit
Individuals who filed suit for the
Mashpee tribe only did it to take
advantage of pan-Indian revivalism
and for financial gain. They’ve given
up their customs and sovereignty.