Aquinnah Wampanoags Federally Recognized 1987
On Martha's Vineyard in the 18th and 19th centuries, there were three reservations-- Chappaquiddick, Christiantown and Gay Head (Aquinnah translates as land under the hill).
The Chappaquiddick Reservation was part of a small island of the same name and was located on the eastern point of that island. As the result of the sale of land in 1789, the natives lost valuable areas, and the remaining land was distributed among the Indian residents in 1810. In 1823 the laws were changed, in order to hinder those trying to get rid of the natives. Around 1849, Wampanoags owned 692 acres of infertile land, and many of the residents moved to nearby Edgartown, so that they could practice a trade and obtain some civil rights.
Christiantown was originally a "praying town" on the northwest side of Martha's Vineyard. In 1849 the reservation consisted of 390 acres. Wampanoag oral history tells that Christiantown was wiped out in 1888 by smallpox.
Gay Head (Aquinnah) was constructed in 1711 by the New England Company to Christianize the natives. They bought land for the natives who had lived there since before 1642. The state created a reservation on a peninsula on the western point of Martha's Vineyard and named it Gay Head. In 1849 Gay Head reservation had 2,400 acres, of which 500 acres were distributed among the tribe members.
The rest was communal property. They did not allow whites to settle on their land. They made strict laws regulating membership in the tribe.
Today the reservation consists of 485 acres and is located on the outermost southwest part of the island. In 1972, Aquinnah Wampanoag descendants formed the Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc., to achieve self-determination and federal recognition. The Bureau of Indian Affairs recognized the tribe in 1987.
Aquinnah Cliff Casino Plans
In 2010 the Aquinnah Wampanoags put forward plans for the development of an Aquinnah reservation casino, which was met with opposition by state and local officials. The 10,0000-square-foot casino would feature 250 electronic gaming machines that operate under Class II bingo-type rules.
The federal government approved their application for "Class II" gambling, however the state sued to block it. In January 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the state's case against the Aquinnah Tribe. Massachusetts had appealed in an attempt to overturn a lower court's decision in favor of the Aquinnah. That ruling said the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act supersedes the 1987 Massachusetts Settlement Act and allows Class I and Class II gambling on Aquinnah land without state approval. In 2019 a federal federal court case filed by the Martha Vineyard Commission ruled the Aquinnah tribe must abide by local zoning laws and acquire proper building permits. This decision was reaffirmed in a Feb 2021 appeals court decision. The Aquinnah Cliffs Casino project is currently on hold.
On Martha's Vineyard in the 18th and 19th centuries, there were three reservations-- Chappaquiddick, Christiantown and Gay Head (Aquinnah translates as land under the hill).
The Chappaquiddick Reservation was part of a small island of the same name and was located on the eastern point of that island. As the result of the sale of land in 1789, the natives lost valuable areas, and the remaining land was distributed among the Indian residents in 1810. In 1823 the laws were changed, in order to hinder those trying to get rid of the natives. Around 1849, Wampanoags owned 692 acres of infertile land, and many of the residents moved to nearby Edgartown, so that they could practice a trade and obtain some civil rights.
Christiantown was originally a "praying town" on the northwest side of Martha's Vineyard. In 1849 the reservation consisted of 390 acres. Wampanoag oral history tells that Christiantown was wiped out in 1888 by smallpox.
Gay Head (Aquinnah) was constructed in 1711 by the New England Company to Christianize the natives. They bought land for the natives who had lived there since before 1642. The state created a reservation on a peninsula on the western point of Martha's Vineyard and named it Gay Head. In 1849 Gay Head reservation had 2,400 acres, of which 500 acres were distributed among the tribe members.
The rest was communal property. They did not allow whites to settle on their land. They made strict laws regulating membership in the tribe.
Today the reservation consists of 485 acres and is located on the outermost southwest part of the island. In 1972, Aquinnah Wampanoag descendants formed the Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc., to achieve self-determination and federal recognition. The Bureau of Indian Affairs recognized the tribe in 1987.
Aquinnah Cliff Casino Plans
In 2010 the Aquinnah Wampanoags put forward plans for the development of an Aquinnah reservation casino, which was met with opposition by state and local officials. The 10,0000-square-foot casino would feature 250 electronic gaming machines that operate under Class II bingo-type rules.
The federal government approved their application for "Class II" gambling, however the state sued to block it. In January 2018 the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the state's case against the Aquinnah Tribe. Massachusetts had appealed in an attempt to overturn a lower court's decision in favor of the Aquinnah. That ruling said the 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act supersedes the 1987 Massachusetts Settlement Act and allows Class I and Class II gambling on Aquinnah land without state approval. In 2019 a federal federal court case filed by the Martha Vineyard Commission ruled the Aquinnah tribe must abide by local zoning laws and acquire proper building permits. This decision was reaffirmed in a Feb 2021 appeals court decision. The Aquinnah Cliffs Casino project is currently on hold.