Mashpee Wampanoag princess not allowed to vote

[MayChe]

By Stephanie Vosk
STAFF WRITER
December 10, 2007 2:01 PM

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe’s “bright star” was turned away from voting in yesterday’s election.

Brailyn “Bright Star” Frye, the tribe’s Pow Wow princess and the daughter of a tribal council member, is as much of a face of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe as the council leaders, appearing often at events in traditional regalia and headdress.

But yesterday, the 19-year-old, along with some of her relatives, was unable to vote in an election to fill two tribal council seats, according to tribe members.

Multiple sources witnessed Frye’s mother, Cheryl Frye in a verbal spat with tribal council Chairman Shawn Hendricks outside tribal council headquarters yesterday.

This is the tribe’s second election since former tribal council Chairman Glenn Marshall was forced to resign after his rape conviction and military lies were exposed. In both elections, tribe members have raised concerns about people who should be on the tribal rolls not being allowed to vote.

Brailyn Frye and the others were notified of their “pending” status on the tribe rolls at the election. While tribe members can request their own status, the rolls as a whole are not available to even other members. They are controlled by tribe genealogist Patricia Oakley.

Aaron Tobey Jr., who was elected to the council yesterday, tried repeatedly this fall to see the rolls after 31 signatures on a petition he submitted for a special meeting were deemed invalid. His request was denied.

Once a tribe is federally recognized, the rolls are completely under the tribe’s control, according to Gary Garrison, spokesman for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

“Nobody can get any confirmation as to why certain people are getting on (the rolls) and why certain people aren’t,” said tribe member Darryl Frye, Brailyn’s uncle, who received 98 votes in the election.

[Blackbear]

This kinda crap happens when you have'nt been a consistant tribe all this time. Legitimate or not, they end up being taken over by the greedy and agressive.

[MayChe]

What doesn't make sense to me is that she was chosen as their Princess. Why choose her as Princess if she can't vote?

[MayChe]

Here's Part 2:

By Stephanie Vosk
also by George Brennan
STAFF WRITER
December 12, 2007 6:00 AM

The Mashpee Wampanoag tribe's "bright star" was turned away from voting in Sunday's tribal election — one of dozens of tribe descendants not eligible to vote because of paperwork snafus.

Brailyn "Bright Star" Frye, the tribe's Pow Wow Princess and the daughter of a tribal council member, is as much a face of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe as its council leaders. She appears often at events in traditional regalia and headdress.

But Sunday, the 19-year-old, along with some of her relatives, was not allowed to vote in an election to fill two tribal council seats, according to tribe members. Frye was denied despite a requirement that the Pow Wow Princess must be a tribe member.

Aaron Tobey Jr. and Robert Dias won council seats with 117 and 107 votes, respectively. Brailyn Frye's uncle, Daryl Frye, received 98 votes, placing fourth out of nine candidates.

"It would have been right there," Daryl Frye said yesterday. "There are people in my immediate family "¦ that could have affected the race."

In a clear challenge to the existing tribal council leadership and their followers, Frye had run on a platform of open tribal government.

Tribal officials said through a spokeswoman that they would have no comment on the membership rolls.

Brailyn Frye could not be reached for comment yesterday.

The 11-member tribal council governs all aspects of tribal affairs, including the pursuit of a casino in Massachusetts. It will ultimately be council members who decide whether the tribe will continue trying to open an Indian casino under federal rules or bid for a commercial casino under Gov. Deval Patrick's proposal.

To be a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag tribe, members have to prove they are direct lineal descendents of the 450 Mashpee Indians on the 1861 census of Indians in the state, known as the Earle Report. To vote in elections, tribe members only need to be registered, active members age 18 or over.

This is the tribe's second election since former council Chairman Glenn Marshall was forced to resign after his rape conviction and lies about military service were exposed.

In both elections, tribe members have raised concerns about people who should be on the tribal rolls not being allowed to vote

Brailyn Frye and the others were notified they are on a "pending list" of people waiting to join the official ranks. Tribe members say there are as many as 500 people on this list.

Once a tribe is federally recognized, the rolls are completely under the tribe's control, said Gary Garrison, spokesman for the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs.

It is up to tribe members to process applications and decide who makes it onto the rolls and when. When the tribe received recognition, there were 1,453 active members, according to BIA documents.

"Nobody can get any confirmation as to why certain people are getting on (the rolls) and why certain people aren't," Daryl Frye said.

While the tribe fought for recognition, the rolls were frozen, as the Wampanoag had to prove the qualifications of each member. In February, when the tribe was notified it would be recognized, council spokesman Scott Ferson announced the tribe would be reopening the rolls, though tribe leaders would be scrutinizing each application.

While tribe members can request their own status, the rolls as a whole are not available even to other members.

Tobey, the new council member, tried repeatedly this fall to see the list after 31 signatures on a petition he submitted for a special meeting were deemed invalid. His request was denied, and an inability to determine who was ineligible helped to derail the meeting.

Ted Jonas, 69, didn't even bother to go to the election because he was turned away from the polls two years ago after having voted in the past, he said. He is on the pending list, he said.

Some of his family members are active. One of his twin 16-year-old granddaughters is on the rolls. The other is not.

Jonas has resubmitted his paperwork, but is still waiting.

"It could be tomorrow or it could be next year," Jonas said about when his tribal status would become active. "You ask them why, and you can't get a straight answer."

Stephanie Vosk can be reached at [email protected]. George Brennan can be reached at [email protected].

Mashpee Wampanoag membership requirements

Proof of direct lineal descent from the 450 Mashpee Indians on the Earle Report, the 1861 census of American Indians in the state.

Voter requirements

* Be an active, registered member of the tribe.
* Be age 18 or older.


PRINCESS KEPT FROM VOTE

POW WOW PRINCESS REQUIREMENTS

* Must be a tribe member.
* Must be at least 16 years of age.
* Must be attending school.
* Has shown an ability to dance.
* Possesses regalia and headdress, preferably hand made.
* Must be interviewed by a committee of elders about her intentions for the tribe and how she views her position in the tribe.

[billyjoejimbob]

OK, so either the princess system is flawed or the government is flawed.

This morning Howard Stern was talking about how the rich people are in charge, regardless of there being a government.

Even if the government is full of rich people, they have to do what the richer people say!

I think part of the federal recognition system should be updates and audits. Especially nowadays when your neighbor and his uncle can become a tribe!