Facebook Twitter Email
AUGUST 4, 2000

The Bureau of Indian Affairs will hold a two-day meeting next week in Washington, DC, to discuss the federal recognition petitions of the Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribes of Connecticut.

The meeting will finally bring together the BIA with some of its main critics. Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal requested the formal meeting in May.

The meeting also comes as the end of a six-month comment period on the two tribes nears. Kevin Gover, head of the BIA, issued a preliminary finding in favor of the tribes in late March.

Since then, some local and state officials have have been vocal in their opposition to the tribes receiving recognition from the federal government. The officials contend the tribes, who have been state-recognized since the 17th century, shouldn't receive federal recognition.

"Based on the information we have, our data does not justify" Gover's recommendation, said Robert Congdon, First Selectman for the town of Preston. He said his town's researchers have been focusing on the issue for at least two years.

Preston, North Stonington, and Ledyard have been at the forefront of the anti-federal recognition campaign. As immediate neighbors to the Lantern Hill Reservation, where the two tribes reside, they face the most immediate impact from a finding in favor of the tribes.

The towns already have experience living next to a federally recognized tribe. They are neighbors to the reservation of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, who received federal recognition in 1983.

The state of Connecticut, through Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, has not only called for the rescindment of the preliminary findings, but also for the recusal of Gover from the process. He believes Gover has a conflict of interest, having performed legal work for another Connecticut tribe seeking recognition.

But that issue, nor any other alleged or acknowledged problems with the federal recognition process, won't be discussed at the meeting. The BIA has also said it won't discuss information that is already available in public documents.

The limited focus has already raised concern by some. Congdon told the Associated Press last week he wasn't surprised at the meeting's "confining" nature.

Congdon earlier criticized Gover for making a "mockery" of the federal recognition process. He says Gover has appeared to overrule findings by his own staff.

"I don't think Gover's stance is doing justice to the legitimate tribes any more to us," Congdon told Indianz.Com in May.

The meeting will take place August 8 and August 9. It begins each day at 9:00 AM. It is a public meeting.

The comment period on the two tribes ends September 27.

Relevant Links:
Media Advisory, Pequot Meeting (includes map of location) - www.doi.gov/bia/news/eastpequots.htm
The Bureau of Indian Affairs - www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html
Eastern Pequot Preliminary Recognition - www.doi.gov/bia/bar/epdx.htm
Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Preliminary Recognition - www.doi.gov/bia/bar/pepdx.htm

Related Stories:
Town: Gover a 'mockery' (The Talking Circle 05/25)
Gover wants BIA out of nastiness (Tribal Law 5/25)
Key Provisions of the Indian Federal Recognition Administrative Procedures Act of 1999 (Tribal Law 5/25)
BIA eases recognition process (Tribal Law 5/22)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Links and resources on Federal Recognition.

Search for articles on federal recognition:

 

Search for articles on the Pequot tribes of Connecticut: