FROM THE ARCHIVE

Pequot Tribe says fellow tribe not Pequot

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 7, 2001

The current tribal membership of the Eastern Pequot Tribe is not descended from the historic Pequot Tribe, a rival tribe says in recently submitted documents.

The Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribe is the sole successor to the historic Eastern Pequot Tribe, the documents state. As such, the tribe should be granted federal recognition.

The report was authored by researcher Steve Austin. He is a former employee of the Bureau of Indian Affairs who worked on the federal recognition petition of the Mohegan Tribe, who were federally recognized in 1994.

Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb has to decide whether the two Pequot tribes deserve recognition. He could recognize one group, both or neither.

Previously, BIA researchers have said they found no evidence the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribe existed as a sole entity until 1973. That is the date of an apparent split between the rival groups, who both claim the Lantern Hill Reservation in Connecticut.

Get the Story:
Paucatuck Eastern Pequots deny ever having ties to the Eastern Pequot tribe (The Norwich Bulletin 8/7)

Related Stories:
Conn. AG urges denial of Pequot Tribes (8/3)
Pequot leaders confident on recognition (8/3)
Towns say Pequot Tribes not Pequot (8/3)
Towns submit Pequot documentation (8/2)
Towns criticize Eastern Pequot Tribe (8/1)
Comments due on Pequot recognitions (7/31)