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OCTOBER 23, 2000

The New London Day is revisiting the federal recognition issue and includes a comparison of the petitions of the Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribes to previous acknowledgement decisions by the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

One area the paper focuses on are the claims made by the state of Connecticut and three local towns that the two tribes aren't descended from the historic Eastern Pequot tribe. The paper says the Mohegan Tribe, acknowledged in 1994, provided more concrete proof of their heritage, which included a list of the "blood quantum" of 19th century tribal members.

The paper also says the Gay Head Wampanoag of Massachusetts, acknowledged in 1987, provided an 18th century list of the "blood quantum" of tribal members. But at a public meeting held in August to discuss the two Eastern Pequot petitions, BIA researchers said the blood quantum of past or current tribal members has no influence on their tribal identity.

The paper also focuses on the fact that Kevin Gover issued a positive finding for the tribes, despite gaps in the evidentiary record, particularly from the 1920s and on. While the BIA rejected using state recognition as a factor for both the Mohegan and the Golden Hill Paugussetts, Gover said the lack of evidence in the case of the Pequots was overcome by their state recognition.

Get the Story:
An Agency Under Fire (The New London Day 10/23)
BIA Researchers Buried In Application Avalanche (The New London Day 10/23)

Related Stories:
BIA meeting centers on history (Tribal Law 8/7)
Will Lieberman attend BIA meeting? (Tribal Law 8/7)
BIA: Towns not reliable (Tribal Law 8/9)
BIA tells tribe, state where to go (Tribal Law 8/10)
BIA 'bewildered' by state request (Tribal Law 8/10)
BIA: No evidence tribe existed (Tribal Law 8/10)
Tribe, towns, state pleased with meeting (Tribal Law 8/10)

Relevant Links:
Eastern Pequot Preliminary Recognition - www.doi.gov/bia/bar/epdx.htm
Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Preliminary Recognition - www.doi.gov/bia/bar/pepdx.htm