By Jesse A. Floyd
The Beacon Villager
Thursday, June 23, 2005 STOW - The bulldozers are rolling, the trees are falling and
construction of the Derby Woods subdivision is proceeding apace. The
project, approved in January 2004, has rarely been free of controversy and
concern, particularly from abutters, a fact that clearly hasn't slowed the
work.
In March, a neighbor filed complained to police of work starting
too early and even, according to police reports, began posting "Private
Property" signs on land owned by the developer, Habitech. The focus of
opposition so far has been the environmental degradation they claim is
caused by the development. The development was vetted and approved by the
Planning Board in January 2004.
Now, there's a new player: The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Ahead
Aquinnah. According to the tribe, the development is squarely on top of a
Native American sacred site that dates back millennia. Cheryl
Andrews-Maltais, tribal historic preservation officer, sent a letter to
selectmen on June 3, asking to be included on the June 14 agenda to discuss
the issue, a request which was denied.
The site, she said, is part of an ancient sacred corridor or
landscape that extends through Acton, Carlisle, Concord, Lincoln, Littleton,
Boxborough and Westford. The religious sites, she said, were in use long
before Europeans landed in what would become Massachusetts.
"This is the paradox between development and preservation,"
Andrews-Maltais said. "We need to find a way to incorporate a need to build
with the need to conserve."
On the land in question is a large boulder [called a glacial
erratic] that is known locally as Indian Hunting Rock. There is also a stand
of Indian-manipulated bent trees and a large mortar hollowed from the stone,
she said. All make up part of the site's importance to the indigenous
people, she said.
"We all have a vested interested in preserving these things," she
said.
The Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head is a federally recognized tribe
and one of 24 that make up the United South and Eastern Tribes - essentially
a lobbying group aimed at protected the rights and interests of Native
Americans.. In a resolution, passed in 2001, the USET called for partnership
with the towns in which the sacred landscape rests with a goal of protecting
and preserving the relics. That, Andrews-Maltais said, remains the goal -
preserving and maintaining the site without blocking growth. The sites,
while ancient, still retain cultural significance to the tribe and could
become important to the people who eventually occupy the new developments,
she said.
"We want to work collaboratively to see that all involved are at
least satisfied with the outcome," she said. 'We not the type to go dragging
people into court."
According to Planning Director Karen Kelleher, the work was
approved after due process by both the town and the developer.
"We distributed the plan to all boards and commissions, including
the Historical Commission," said Kelleher, "and there weren't any problems."
Kelleher said the planning board has had no contact with the Wampanoag
Tribe.
In January 2004, when the project won approval, the Historical
Commission asked it be notified if any historical or prehistorical evidence
was found on the site, a request the planning board granted. Efforts to
reach the Historical Commission before deadline were unsuccessful.
Habitech, the development company in charge of the project, is
moving ahead with the development.
"It has no effect on what we're doing," said owner Bruce Wheeler,
"It isn't sacred land."
While the Wampanoag tribe understand there's no chance of
reversing the course of development, Andrews-Maltais said the sites which
have been sacred to Native Americans for centuries can become valuable and
important sites for the new inhabitants as well, another reason to preserve
the sites in question.
"If an ancient historic site affects one hundred or one
thousands, we have an obligation to protect and preserve that part of who we
are," she said.