Recognizing the Mashpee Wampanoag at Family Week

As we welcome families to Family Week, we acknowledge the Native Land that Family Week takes place on, as well as the impact of the history of colonization.

It is imperative to begin by acknowledging that Family Week is taking place on the ancestral land of the Mashpee Wampanoag [wahm-puh-noh-ag] People. Provincetown is the starting point for colonization of the occupied land known as the United States. The Pilgrim Monument commemorates the first invasion of the Pilgrims in 1620. By being here today we continue to occupy the land, and we must commit to exploring our place in that history. We recognize the indigenous lives lost on this land and the continued fight for sovereignty for the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe in Mashpee, MA. By saying this, it does not absolve us from our continued commitment to indigenous people and decolonization. We are each accountable for our place in history, and we must commit to respecting the land and uplifting the work of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe. We also stand in solidarity with the indigenous peoples of the areas from which we traveled to be here.

he land that many call Provincetown is actually the land of the Mashpee Wampanoag People. The early colonization that took place in 1616 affected the entire Wampanoag Nation, from Provincetown to Narragansett Bay, where the Nation lost a multitude of people to yellow fever. This harsh impact of colonization continued on in 1620 when the Mayflower first arrived in Provincetown.

Colonization is not a singular moment in time, it is a constant that continues to affect the surviving indigenous communities, who are still tirelessly fighting to reclaim and protect their cherished land. The Mashpee Wampanoag are not just a part of history; they are an existing element of our current society.

We encourage all Family Week attendees to take action in supporting the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, as well as the tribes whose land you occupy at home. Suggested actions include:

  • Supporting the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe while at Family Week:

    • Take the time to stop by Mashpee Wampanoag Museum on your way to or from Ptown! Engage in family discussions about what you’ve discovered. You can find information about the museum here.

    • Visit the Mashpee Wampanoag exhibit at the Provincetown Museum during Family Week - click here for a QR code you can use for discounted tickets.

    • Visit the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s website.

    • Learn about how you can support the Native Land Conservancy.

    • Attend and participate in the Mashpee Wampanoag performance at the Family Week kick-off event on Sunday, beginning at 2:30pm!