Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag

The Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag is a cultural heritage group that claims descendancy from the Massachusett people, an Indigenous people of the Northeastern Woodlands.[1]

This article is about the nonprofit organization. For historical Native American tribe, see Massachusett.
Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag
Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc.
Ponkapoag Land Corporation
Named afterMassachusett people, Ponkapoag praying town
Formation2002
FounderGilbert Solomon
Founded atHolliston, Massachusetts
TypeNonprofit
Registration no.Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc.:
EIN 32-0020700,
Ponkapoag Land Corporation:
EIN 32-0020702
Legal statusnonprofit
PurposeCultural, Ethnic Awareness
Location
President
Gilbert Solomon
Websitemassachusetttribe.org

While they identify as a Native American tribe, they are unrecognized, meaning they are neither a federally recognized tribe[2] nor a state-recognized tribe.[3]

Nonprofit organizations

The Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2002;[4] however, GuideStar reports that their nonprofit status was revoked for failing to file 990 tax forms with the IRS for three consecutive years.[5] As a cultural awareness organization, their stated mission is "The Education of the Massachuset people in our history, customs and culture."[5] Gilbert Solomon is the principal officer, based in Bridgewater, Massachusetts.[5] Their agent is Massachusetts Registered Agent, LLC.[4]

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.[6]

Officers

The 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.[6]

Robin Harris became the director of the Massachusetts-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc. in 2021.[4] Jean Oliver Foster became director of the Ponkapoag Land Corporation in 2021.[6]

Activities

As the Massachusett Tribe at Ponkapoag, the organization released an open letter in 2020 opposing the use of Native American sports mascots.[7] Members participated in the Wessagussett Wetlands and Woodlands site's unveiling of public signage of local history in Weymouth, Massachusetts.[8] 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.[9]

See also

References
  1. "We are the Descendents [sic]". The Masschusett Tribe at Ponkapoag. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  2. "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.
  3. "State Recognized Tribes". National Conference of State Legislatures. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  4. "Massachuset-Ponkapoag Tribal Council, Inc. The". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  5. "Massachusetts-Ponkapoag Tribal Council Inc". Guidestar.
  6. "Ponkapoag Land Corporation". OpenCorporates. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  7. Solomon, Elizabeth (June 28, 2020). "Massachusett-Mascot-letter.pdf". MA Indigenous Legislative Agenda. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
  8. 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.
  9. "Native American Tribe Wants BU To Change Name Of Myles Standish Dorm". WBUR. September 21, 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
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