Our offices will be closed Wednesday, August 12, 2026 in remembrance of one of the Wampanoag Nation’s fallen Sachems, Metacom, also known as King Phillip.
As colonizers continued to come to this land, they imposed their ways more and more. Metacom traveled to what became Southern New England and as far out as Mohawk country. He asked as many Tribal warriors that would, to help fight a war against English encroachment in an effort to save our homelands, our ancient way of life and our very lives. The war began June of 1675 through August 12,1676 when King Phillip was killed, thereby ending the war. King Phillip’s War is known as the bloodiest war ever to be fought on this continent, with the loss of many thousands of Wampanoag people. So on this day, we remember Metacom, King Philip and his efforts to save us.
We hope you will join us in taking a few moments in observance and remembrance of Metacom, and all of our ancestors who fought for us.
Neewuchee nakumâw âs nutayuneân! Because of them, we still live here!
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Welcome
Welcome to the official website of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah), a federally recognized Tribal Nation located on the western end of Martha’s Vineyard. Our Tribe has maintained a continuous connection to these homelands for thousands of years, preserving our culture, traditions, language, and sovereignty while serving our Tribal Citizens and community today.
Whether you are a Tribal Citizen, community member, partner agency, or visitor, this website is your resource for Tribal government, programs, services, announcements, and upcoming events.
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About Our Tribe
The Wampanoag Nation once included all of Southeastern Massachusetts and Eastern Rhode Island, encompassing over 67 distinct tribal communities. The Wampanoag people have undergone a very difficult history after assisting pilgrims in the early 1600s. With the European settlers came much adversity for our tribe - disease that virtually wiped out whole villages, systems of government that bore little resemblance to our tribal practices and values, missionaries intent on converting us to Christianity, and private models of land use and ownership that conflicted with our tribe's own communal practices and values. The vast majority of these tribal communities were killed in battles initiated by colonists to secure land. Today, only six visible tribal communities remain. Mashpee and Aquinnah have maintained physical and cultural presence on their ancestral homelands. Linking these tribal communities through preservation efforts is essential for survival of the many cultural arts and traditions at risk of being lost.