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Federal Recognition
Massachusetts tribe waits for answer on recognition


The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts will finally receive an answer to its bid for federal recognition.

The tribe began its effort in 1975 with a land claim lawsuit. But defeat came when a jury ruled that the tribe hadn't functioned continuously as a government.

The tribe subsequently filed a petition with the Bureau of Indian Affairs but has been on the waiting list for more than a decade. An answer will finally come in March 2006, when the BIA makes a preliminary ruling on the tribe's status. A final decision is expected by March 2007.

Get the Story:
Wampanoag recognition uneasy to some (AP 8/5)

Relevant Links:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com

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