The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation is accusing the state of violating a "no-contact" order that bars lobbying the Interior Department on the tribe's recognition case.

The tribe filed papers in federal court detailing contacts between the state and the department. In one incident, Gov. Jodi M. Rell (R) met with Secretary Gale Norton to discuss the federal recognition process.

The tribe says the state acted at the best of Town Action to Save Kent (TASK), a group that opposes the tribe's recognition, and Barbour Griffith & Rogers, a Republican law firm hired to derail the recognition bid. But Rell says her visit with Norton wasn't connected to TASK or the lobbyists.

Get the Story:
Tribe: State Violated Order (The Hartford Courant 8/23)
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IBIA Decisions:
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation | Schaghticoke Tribal Nation

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (July 2004)

Relevant Links:
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation - http://www.schaghticoke.com
Interior Board of Indian Appeals Decisions - http://www.ibiadecisions.com

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