The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag is a cultural heritage group that claims descendancy from the Massachusett people, an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands.[2]
| Named after | Massachusett people, Ponkapoag praying town |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2002 |
| Founder | Gilbert Solomon |
| Founded at | Holliston, Massachusetts |
| Type | Nonprofit |
| Registration no. | Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc.: EIN 32-0020700, Ponkapoag Land Corporation: EIN 32-0020702 |
| Legal status | nonprofit |
| Purpose | Cultural, Ethnic Awareness |
| Location | |
President | Gilbert Solomon |
Revenue (2012) | $5.73K[1] |
| Expenses (2012) | $4.05K[1] |
| Website | massachusetttribe |
While they identify as a Native American tribe, they are unrecognized, meaning they are neither a federally recognized tribe[3] nor a state-recognized tribe.[4]
Nonprofit organizations
editThe Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2002;[1][5] however, GuideStar reports that their nonprofit status was revoked for failing to file 990 tax forms with the IRS for three consecutive years.[6] As a cultural awareness organization, their stated mission is "The Education of the Massachuset people in our history, customs and culture."[6] Gilbert Solomon is the principal officer, based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.[6] Their agent is Massachusetts Registered Agent, LLC.[5]
The Ponkapoag Land Corporation is an active nonprofit organization, also founded in 2002 with Gilbert Solomon serving as agent. Its registered address is in Holliston, Massachusetts.[7]
Officers
editThe officers of the Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc., and Ponkapoag Land Corporation are as follows:
- Gilbert Solomon, president
- Thomas Green, vice president
- Elizabeth Solomon, treasurer
- Alysha Gray, clerk.[7]
Robin Harris became the director of the Massachusetts-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc. in 2021.[5] Jean Oliver Foster became director of the Ponkapoag Land Corporation in 2021.[7]
Elizabeth Solomon, a member and officer of the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag and a Harvard University alumna and director of administration at the Harvard School of Public Health, has delivered land acknowledgments for the university[8] and other area institutions.[9]
Activities
editAs the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, the organization released an open letter in 2020 opposing the use of Native American sports mascots.[10] Members participated in the Wessagussett Wetlands and Woodlands site's unveiling of public signage of local history in Weymouth, Massachusetts.[11] The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag has publicly called on Boston University to rename its Myles Standish Hall to Wituwamat Memorial Hall after a Neponset tribal member killed by colonists in 1623.[12]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c "Massachusetts Ponkapoag Tribal Council Inc". ProPublica. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ "We are the Descendents [sic]". The Masschusett Tribe at Ponkapoag. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Indian Entities Recognized by and Eligible To Receive Services From the United States Bureau of Indian Affairs". Indian Affairs Bureau. Federal Register. January 29, 2021. pp. 7554–58. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc. The". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 8 June 2024.
- ^ a b c "Massachusetts-Ponkapoag Tribal Council Inc". Guidestar.
- ^ a b c "Ponkapoag Land Corporation". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ Herszenhorn, Miles J.; Yuan, Claire (September 29, 2023). "As it Happened: Harvard President Claudine Gay's Inauguration". The Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Carmosino, Elyse (October 9, 2020). "Salem to celebrate inaugural Indigenous Peoples' Day". The Daily Item. Essex Media Group. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ Solomon, Elizabeth (June 28, 2020). "Massachusett-Mascot-letter.pdf" (PDF). MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ Trufant, Jessica (October 9, 2021). "New panels shed light on Weymouth's 'sordid past,' history of Massachusett Tribe". The Patriot Ledger. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ "Native American Tribe Wants BU To Change Name Of Myles Standish Dorm". WBUR. September 21, 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.