Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Opinion
Editorial: Recognition of Conn. tribes without merit


The Bureau of Indian Affairs' decisions to recognize two Connecticut tribes were influenced by "money and lobbyists," The Hartford Courant says in an editorial.

The paper says the recognition of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation and the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation were "illogical" and "spurious." "The congressional delegation should hold hearings on the practice of casino moguls and wealthy investors backing tribal recognition petitions," the paper says. "There should be no place for lobbyists in the process."

The paper says the state "took a posture of lazy paternalism toward its Native American population" for a long time. The state has recognized five tribes -- Mashantucket Pequot, Eastern Pequot, Schaghticoke, Mohegan and Paugussett - since Colonial times and even terminated its relationship with the Mohegan Tribe in the 1800s.

Get the Story:
Tribal Recognition Lacks Merit (The Hartford Courant 3/18)
pwlat

Related Stories:
GOP Congressman withdraws from recognition bill (3/11)
Embattled tribal lobbyist gave to Conn. Congressman (3/10)
Mohegan chairman says recognition bill unfair (2/27)
Recognition still a big issue for tribes (2/26)
Date for House hearing on recognition not set (02/13)
Tribal foes in Conn. want to stop flow of money (02/10)
GAO asked to investigate Schaghticoke recognition (2/9)
Jeff Benedict: BIA out of control on tribal recognition (2/9)
Column: Federal recognition all about 'big wampum' (2/9)
House Resourcess to hold recognition hearing (2/6)
Gover praises BIA for not bowing to pressure (2/2)
Lack of evidence addressed in recognition bill (02/19)
Sweeping recognition reform bill offered (02/07)
At BIA, no recognition of new tribes (2/5)
BIA recognition still hard to prove for some (01/22)
McCaleb delivers aggressive recognition plan (10/03)
BIA role in recognition decisions under review (06/13)
BIA Budget: Doing more with less (3/26)
Bush budget cuts funds for new tribes (3/20)
McCaleb takes on recognition (3/15)
Inside the BIA, plenty of drama (3/4)
Ashcroft urged to charge BIA officials (3/1)
Solutions sought for 'hijacked' recognition (11/9)
Solutions sought for 'hijacked' recognition (11/9)
Gover: Recognition study 'cooked' (11/1)
Reforming federal recognition (10/26)
Gover takes on recognition (10/25)
McCaleb to listen 'closely' to recognition experts (8/9)
McCaleb decision sure to draw scrutiny (7/31)
BIA pushed to provide 'answers' on tribes (7/26)
McCaleb endorses BIA on recognition (6/14)
Gover's 'activist' legacy escapes McCaleb (6/13)
BIA has small goal for big problem (5/22)