Joseph Lee is an Aquinnah Wampanoag writer based in New York City. He has a master of fine arts degree from Columbia University and teaches creative writing at Mercy University.
His memoir, “Nothing More of This Land: Community, Power, and the Search for Indigenous Identity,” was recently published.
It focuses in large part on Martha’s Vineyard, the popular vacation destination that might bring to mind visions of the Kennedy compound or the movie “Jaws,” which was filmed there.
But Martha’s Vineyard is the ancestral home to a small tribe of Native Americans, the Wampanoag. Lee grew up in the Boston suburbs, but he spent his summers on the island, and over time, he began to ask himself questions about his identity.
What does it mean to be Indigenous?
“My brother and I would go to tribal summer camp and learn words from our language,” he said. “My parents taught me the importance of our tribal community.”
Inevitably, as Martha’s Vineyard became more and more of an upscale vacation spot, the Wampanoag were priced out of their ancestral lands. Political fights ensued with the tribe trying to assert itself. Eventually, the tribe received federal recognition and a portion of land, although most of the tribe no longer lives on the island.
While many tribes faced erasure and persecution and became part of a whitewashed version of history, the Wampanoag survived.
“We were not wiped out,” Lee said. “And I wanted to put our story out there as told by at least one of us.”
Lee said his parents owned a gift shop on the island. He did not like working in the shop, dealing with ignorant tourist questions about the Wampanoag. He struggled with the concepts of capitalism and tourism and the negative long-term effects they produced in his community.
“I didn’t have all the tools or answers at the time,” he said. “But that sparked my ongoing exploration (of Indigenous life).” His memoir is an exploration in print of the answers he found.
Lee said he goes back to Martha’s Vineyard every summer. His favorite place is the beach, and his favorite activity is clamming.
But he also has another project in mind.
He is partly Japanese and Chinese. “I want to learn more about that side of the family, too,” Lee said.
In the meantime, when asked how Indigenous communities can be supported, Lee had some specific suggestions:
“Read our books and share them. Write positive reviews. We need as much support as we can get. Think of us throughout the year (not just at Thanksgiving). Ask Indigenous tribes what they want. Learn about history and how it affects us.”
Finally, Lee recommended “To the Moon and Back” by Eliana Ramage, the story of a woman who obsessively dreams of becoming the first Cherokee astronaut.
Indigenous literature is out there, just waiting to be read.
Elisabeth Sherwin is a seasoned journalist who teaches memoir writing at the Estes Valley Rec Center. She holds a master’s in journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University, worked as a copy editor at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and the San Francisco Examiner, and was a reporter, editor, book reviewer, and copy editor at the Davis (Calif.) Enterprise. She also taught journalism at UC Davis Extension. She lives in Allenspark. Her book reviews and other writings can be found on her website, Printed Matter, or click here to see her reviews published on the Estes Valley Voice.
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