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SEPTEMBER 20, 2000

Jeff Benedict, author of Without Reservation, discussed his controversial book about the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation Tuesday night at a forum he hosted in Connecticut.

Tom Tureen, the former Native American Rights Fund (NARF) lawyer who helped the tribe gain federal recognition and settle their land claims in 1983, attended the forum and reiterated his belief that Benedict has not proved his two main allegations against the tribe. In various interviews, Tureen has stated Congress knew of the entire acreage given to the tribe and that the tribe's genealogy traces them to the historic Pequot tribe.

Local, non-Indians residents who attended the forum generally supported Benedict and the book. Some Native Americans who attended criticized Benedict.

Mostly, the crowd of about 900 came to hear what Benedict had to say about the book. Two attendees circulated petitions, hoping to get their Congressional delegation to get involved.

One petition focused on the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act and the other calls on Congress to investigate the federal recognition process and rescind the prelminary recognition of the Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribes.

Get the Story:
Benedict Book Ignites Crowd at Forum (The New London Day 9/20)
'The Book' draws hundreds out of curiosity, interest (The New London Day 9/20)

Related Stories:
CSPAN to film book discussion (9/15)
Author to hold forum (The Talking Circle 08/31)

Relevant Links:
C-SPAN - www.cspan.org

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

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