Advertise:   ads@blueearthmarketing.com   712.224.5420

Federal Recognition
Tribes vow fight after being denied recognition


Stunned and disappointed, leaders of two Connecticut tribes said their struggle to gain federal recognition would not end despite rejection from the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

"The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation has never shied away from a challenge. Today's decision is a disappointment, but it is far from the end of the long struggle to confirm the heritage we know is ours," said Chairwoman Nancy Tyler in a statement [Link].

Richard Velky, the chief of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, also vowed a fight in the courts. "We've answered everything," Velky said, The Connecticut Post reported. "We were given recognition in 2004, and because of politics it was taken away."

State reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Gov. Jodi Rell (R), Attorney General Richard Blumenthal (D) and members of the state's Congressional delegation said the BIA made the right call in rejecting the tribes.

Blumenthal, who has been fighting tribes on recognition, gaming, taxation and land-into-trust issues, is expecting a court fight. But he said plans for any more casinos in the state are "dead."

The decisions from the BIA were reconsidered final determinations. Deputy associate secretary Jim Cason, the acting assistant secretary for Indian affairs, said the tribes failed to meet all of the mandatory recognition criteria.

The decisions were required because the Interior Board of Indian Appeals held that the BIA's prior rulings on the tribes relied too much on their 300-plus year history with the state.

Get the Story:
Schaghticoke claim denied (The Connecticut Post 10/13)
Tribe vows to continue to fight for heritage (The Kent News-Times 10/13)
Feds deny tribes� recognition (The New Haven Register 10/13)
No Doubts: Indians Lose (The Hartford Courant 10/13)
pwday
Leader vows tribe will keep fighting (The Norwich Bulletin 10/13)
Feds reject tribal bids (The Norwich Bulletin 10/13)
Easterns, Schaghticokes Denied Federal Recognition (The New London Day 10/13)
pwday
Lawmakers Say BIA Ruling Against Recognition Was The Correct Decison (The New London Day 10/13)
pwday

IBIA Decisions:
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation | Schaghticoke Tribal Nation

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

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

Related Stories:
Connecticut tribes have been denied recognition (10/12)
Eastern Pequots 'just waiting' on BIA decision (10/11)
Connecticut tribes await recognition decision (10/10)
Editorial: Schaghticokes deserve recognition (10/5)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation awaits BIA decision (10/3)
Connecticut tribe sees support in recognition bid (09/16)
Connecticut tribe's ads tout bid for recognition (09/12)
Tribe, town await recognition decision from BIA (9/9)
Schaghticoke recognition ruling expected in October (09/01)
Connecticut governor denies improper lobbying (08/24)
Tribe says state lobbied Interior on recognition (8/23)
Tribe says lobbying firm derailed recognition bid (08/10)
Woman won't give research to Connecticut tribe (07/21)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation to submit more evidence (07/14)
Editorial: Tribe has one 'last shot' at recognition (7/12)
BIA wants Connecticut tribe to submit more evidence (7/7)
Republican lobbyists fighting for, against tribes (06/28)
Schaghticoke tribe wants to submit new evidence (6/27)
BIA ruling on Connecticut tribes expected in September (06/15)
Olsen won't let Connecticut tribes submit evidence (05/24)
BIA might not accept new evidence from tribes (5/20)
Editorial: Reform of recognition process needed (5/17)
BIA ordered to reconsider two recognition cases (5/17)
Familiar problems aired at recognition hearing (05/12)
Bill against tribe's recognition called termination (04/29)
Federal recognition a costly and risky affair (04/25)
Federal recognition hearing set by Sen. McCain (4/22)
McCain to address federal recognition concerns (04/22)
Recognition handed to a 'not well informed' Cason (04/01)
Recognition bills surface yet again in Congress (03/17)
Schaghticoke chief debates foe of tribe's recognition (03/16)
Connecticut tribe and main foe to discuss recognition (03/08)
Bill revokes BIA's recognition of Connecticut tribe (3/7)
Tribe wants details of lobbying firm's contacts (02/25)
Group denies contact with DOI over tribe's recognition (02/18)
Lobbyist hired to overturn tribe's recognition (01/24)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation in dispute with backer (01/20)
Lawmakers ask Norton to block tribe's recognition (12/10)
BIA made error in tribe's recognition case (12/9)
Group claims tribe's recognition will hurt community (09/30)
State officials want 'fix' to recognition process (09/09)
Probe finds no wrongdoing in BIA recognition case (09/01)
Inspector General investigation called 'bunch of b.s.' (09/01)
Schaghticoke recognition to go before review board (06/04)
Critics take BIA to task over federal recognition (05/06)
Recognition briefing paper at heart of latest feud (05/05)
Martin attacked for federal recognition decision (05/04)
Blumenthal criticized for 'all-out war' on tribes (04/30)
Report: Martin bent rules to recognize Conn. tribe (3/12)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation: 'Today is our day' (1/30)
Recognition decision expected for Schaghticoke Tribe (1/26)
BIA asked to reconsider tribe's membership roll (12/05)
Conn. AG wants to break court agreement with BIA (11/12)
Tribe seeking recognition purges membership rolls (10/13)
State recognized tribe allowed to sue in Conn. (07/22)
Conn. court upholds jurisdiction over tribe (05/13)
Schaghticoke chief disputes state jurisdiction (01/17)
McCaleb 'throwing away a history of people' (12/06)
Schaghticoke Tribe denied recognition (12/5)
Lawmakers attempt to thwart recognition (12/5)
Conn. tribe awaits recognition ruling (12/4)
Recognition decision expected this week (12/2)
McCaleb plans to issue recognition ruling (11/26)
McCaleb ruling holds promise for state tribes (06/25)
McCaleb makes recognition history (6/25)
BIA project consumes recognition resources (06/12)
BIA recognition staff fails pressure test (05/31)
State challenges Schaghticoke Tribe (04/19)
Tribe's recognition delayed (02/20)
Conn. tribe waiting on recognition (01/23)