The Department of Interior Board of Indian Appeals has accepted a challenge to the federal recognition of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Connecticut.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs in late January issued a final determination in favor of the tribe. The BIA said state recognition was used as a substitute for lack of evidence in the tribe's history.

Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal, 12 towns and other groups filed an appeal to the ruling. They say the tribe doesn't satisfy all the mandatory criteria for recognition and that state recognition should not be used to help the tribe.

The IBIA doesn't have the power to overturn a recognition decision but can refer the case back to BIA for further review.

Get the Story:
On Schaghticokes, Appeal Accepted By Review Panel (The Kent Good Times Dispatch 6/4)