10/18/2022 MASHPEE INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY COMMITTEE Minutes

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pit YI ix Nas�C, pee bwlusim and Diversity Committee ......._mm..� .......,.,._�....... _................_..16 Great Neck Road -North Nashpee, NA o2649 The more we know about people's experiences, especially those of our indigenous tribes, is how we can develop allies. One thing she found really encouraging was when there were allies at that meeting, people who learned to understand and support him in that time of difficulty. How do we build a group of allies? We cannot expect a particular group to do that alone. Those that empower have to empower others. Mr. Weeden acknowledged his historical insight and in the State of Massachusetts there is a term known as systemic governmental pressure. When you look at Indian policy that has been used at a federal level, a lot of that was derived from the treatment of Native Americans in the commonwealth. He noted the Dawes Act. Prior to that, a lot of state attorneys and policy makers went to Ivy League colleges like Harvard and Brown, and that contributed. They continued to lose land due to systemic oppressions. They had 22 indigenous men fight in the Revolutionary War, only 2 returned. Widows were not entitled to lands and had to aggressively advocate what was owed to them, when most were compensated 100 acres. Nobody has lost more than the Native Americans, especially when looking at systemic oppressions. For someone who knows this history, it is painful. Thirteen kids would have to work off the debt of the family. The people who owned the debt had the trading posts. Cahoon Museum has a ledger. Those who worked whaling ships or cranberry bogs would get the money but it was indebted so it wasn't your money even though you worked for it. It has been an oppressive culture for a long time. The trauma is still there and it breaks your spirit. He would appreciate the same civil liberties. The constitution is not applied unilaterally. Native Americans are still looking for achievements. These drive him to have a seat at the table. Ms. Stevenson will send a link on a 7 minute program called How Do We Know. It is very powerful, educational, and builds awareness. Mr. Weeden wanted to speak to the people who did come out and support him. He had a lot of phone calls. He told people that felt bothered to speak on it or deal with it. He is not here to stir up trouble and provoke dysfunction, that is not who he is or what he is about. He thanks everyone who came forward on his behalf, complacency is just as bad as condoning. America puts itself on a plateau and looks down on other places, but we have a dark past here. Looking at Natives Americans, Africans, and Japanese, they were all oppressed when first getting to America. It is crucial to educate the public and call attention to things when we see them. Ms. Stevenson discussed the optics and what it looked like. Social media was brought up as being a catalyst but people saw what happened at the meeting or saw the tape and responded because they felt it was wrong. We try so hard to develop these relationships, and to have that happen was shameful and it was a call to this Committee to address it. 7