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JULY 18, 2000

In a series of letters written by their law firm, the towns of North Stonington, Preston, and Ledyard are asking the BIA for a copy of the original map that shows the borders of the Mashantucket Pequot reservation in Connecticut.

The map was used by Congress in enacting the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act. The Act settled the tribe's outstanding land claims against local landowners and granted the tribe federal recognition.

The map has been a source of contention ever since author Jeff Benedict claimed the tribe got more land than it deserved. To solve this alleged violation of law, Benedict advocates in a recent editorial terminating the tribe and reducing the size of their reservation.

The towns are also asking for all documentation related to the federal recognition petition of the Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribes. A recent report by the Hartford Courant alleges Assistant Secretary Kevin Gover overrode the findings of his staff to extend preliminary recognition in March to the two state-recognized tribes.

One of the letters says the BIA has to respond with 10 days or face a violation under the Freedom of Information Act.

So far, no one has been able to locate an original copy of the map, although several copies exist.

Get the Story:
Three towns press efforts to get map, documents related to recognition efforts of three local tribes (The New London Day 7/18)

Related Stories:
Author advocates termination (Tribal Law 7/17)
Map at center of Pequot debate (Tribal Law 7/10)
Report alleges Gover misdeed (Tribal Law 7/10)
State to towns: Do your own research (Tribal Law 06/30)
Towns: Show us the map (Tribal Law 06/26)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition (Tribal Law 5/17)

Without Reservation Jeff Benedict. Read our review. Buy the book that has been causing so much controversy.

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