The first powwow to be held on Gay Head since the days of King Philip took place in that town last night, and the flavor and spirit of those ancient days was revived so far as possible when Loren
Aquinnah selectmen voted Wednesday to send a letter to the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), requesting a public meeting to discuss the bingo hall now under construction.
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) has officially broken ground on a long-promised gambling facility in the small up-Island town, unleashing a flurry of concern.
Here is a timeline of key events in efforts by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to offer gambling in Massachusetts:
1870 – Massachusetts incorporates the town of Gay Head over the objections of the Wampanoags.
Dec. 1974 – Tribe sues town in U.S. District Court, asserting its rights to tribal land under the 1790 Non-Intercourse Act.
Construction has begun on a large bingo hall planned by the tribe in Aquinnah — and tribal leaders have issued a stern warning to the town and the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to not interfere.
Chilmark selectmen Tuesday evening discussed asking the Martha’s Vineyard Commission to review plans by the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) to build a bingo hall on tribal land in neighboring Aquinnah.
An Aquinnah selectman met with the chairman of the Wampanoag tribe to discuss the current status of the bingo hall project. But there were few new details.
