The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts is renewing its push to gain federal recognition.

The tribe applied for recognition in the 1980s and completed its petition in 1990. The tribe is first on the Bureau of Indian Affairs' "ready" list.

Despite being first, the BIA has yet to make a decision on the tribe. In one instance, the BIA, acting on a court deadline, issued a ruling on a tribe further behind on the list.

The tribe sued to force an answer but the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a deadline imposed on the BIA. The tribe is back in court in hopes of getting an answer on its status soon.

Get the Story:
Tribal leaders push case with GOP (The Cape Cod Times 9/3)

Related Stories:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe rubs elbows at RNC (9/1)
House panel sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
House panel sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
Federal recognition process subject of two hearings (03/31)
BIA delaying decision on Mass. tribe (12/20)
Mass. town accused of hindering recognition (10/30)
Jump in recognition petitions noted (06/12)
BIA recognition staff fails pressure test (05/31)
Wampanoag leader remembered (03/08)