The Aquinnah Wampanoag tribe operates a shellfish hatchery on Menemsha Pond, cultivating oysters.

[6] The town of Aquinnah owns the publicly accessible land atop the cliffs, but the tribe has right of refusal for all lease agreements.

[8] English people began settling in the region in large numbers by the 17th and 18th centuries, encroaching on Wampanoag lands.

In the nineteenth century, these bodies had not gained federal approval through the Senate for extinguishment of Wampanoag title, as required under the 1790 Non-Intercourse Act.

The US federal government formally recognized the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) on 10 April 1987.

By letter dated 23 August 2013, the Solicitor of the Department of Interior responded to an inquiry by the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC) and said that the Wampanoag were not prohibited by the terms of their 1987 Settlement Act from applying for approval of gaming on their lands, in accordance with state laws.

[11] The tribe has pulled back from an earlier proposal to develop a Class III gaming casino on its land, to which the state had objected.

[citation needed] The governor and other parties opposed approving a Class III casino to be developed by the Wampanoag tribe on the Vineyard.

As of 2014, the Gay Head Wampanoag proposed to adapt an existing building for a Class II boutique casino.

In addition, he determined that the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head (Aquinnah) did not have "sufficient governmental control" over its reservation to manage a casino.

"Mr. Rappaport explained that this referred to the tribe’s lack of police (they have only conservation rangers), ambulance service, firefighting staff, or any jurisdiction over the behavior of nontribe members on tribal property.

[15] The Aquinnah Cultural Center is a collaborative heritage preservation, operated by a nonprofit founded by tribal members.

[6] In 2006, the building was recognized for its significance in Native American history by being added to the National Register for Historic places.

[7][17] According to Wampanoag legend, the cranberries were brought from heaven in the beak of a white dove as a gift from the Great Spirit.

The berries were dropped into a bog where they flourished under the care of Granny Squanit, the woman's god of wild fruits and herbs.

The tribe does not tamper with the bog via weeding or using fertilizer in order to leave full control to the Great Spirit.