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OCTOBER 24, 2000

On Monday, Nicholas H. Mullane, selectman for the Connecticut town of North Stonington, said the federal government is responsible for the animosity between three local towns and the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Mullane said the government's failure to adhere to its own policies is causing disputes with the tribe. He also said the extension of federal recognition to two other Pequot tribes is causing animosity.

The towns of Ledyard, North Stonington, and Preston oppose efforts by the tribe to add 165 acres of land to its reservation. Along with the state, they believe the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act forever defined the borders of the reservation.

But the Second Circuit Court of Appeals disagreed and said Congress never intended for the law to limit the tribe's borders. A commentary written by a local lawyer also suggests the towns and the state were silent on the issue when the tribe first applied to take the land into trust in 1993 by not commenting on pending legislation for the Mohegan Tribe.

The towns also believe the Eastern Pequot and the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribes shouldn't be recognized by the federal government. The two have been state recognized since the 17th century.

Get the Ruling:
Connecticut v. Babbitt (Second Circuit Court of Appeals. No. 99-6042. September 2000)

Get the Story:
Mullane says Indian tribe debate must focus on federal responsibility (The New London Day 10/24)

Related Stories:
Pequot law won't be changed (Tribal Law 10/06)
Lawyer claims rules directed at towns (Tribal Law 10/5)
Anti-Pequot towns: No one's helping us (9/28)
Pequot tribe tries to assuage fears (9/28)
Towns want 'sloppy' legislation fixed (9/27)
Residents want tribe to pay taxes (9/27)
Tribe wants to add more land (9/27)
Does a Pequot empire await? (Tribal Law 9/27)
Court rules against anti-Pequot towns (Tribal Law 9/26)
Towns optimistic about Pequot suit (Tribal Law 06/15)