The Abenaki Nation of Vermont hopes to convince the Bureau of Indian Affairs that it deserves federal recognition, Chief April Rushlow Merrill told The Burlington Free Press.

The tribe failed to meet four out of seven recognition criteria, the BIA announced yesterday. But Merrill said the tribe has time to submit more information.

"It's a process. This is not abnormal to have a decision like this. Any tribe that has gone through this process has not gotten approval on the first go-round," she told the Burlington paper.

State officials were pleased that the BIA denied the tribe. The state has fought recognition out of fear it will lead to gaming.

The decision issued by associate deputy secretary Jim Cason was his third major foray into recognition. Last month, he denied recognition to two Connecticut tribes.

Get the Story:
Abenaki suffer setback (The Burlington Free Press 11/11)
Bureau of Indian Affairs: No recognition for Abenaki (AP 11/11)
Abenaki Denied Federal Recognition (WCAX 11/10)
Press Release: Associate Deputy Secretary Declines to Acknowledge St. Francis/Sokoki Band of Abenaki as an Indian Tribe (BIA 11/10)

Relevant Documents:
Summary of Acknowledgment Cases | R. Lee Fleming Declaration

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

Relevant Links:
Abenaki Nation - http://www.abenakination.org

Related Stories:
Cason rejects recognition for Abenaki Nation (11/10)
Big workload looms for BIA on federal recognition (07/26)
Abenaki Nation recognition bill advances in Vermont (05/12)
Abenaki Nation presses case for state recognition (05/05)
Bill to recognize Abenaki Nation advances in Vermont (04/15)
State removes 'Abenaki' from tribe's contract (03/31)
Abenakis press Vermont for state recognition (02/16)
Bill in Vermont seeks to recognize Abenaki Nation (02/14)
Tribe's endorsement of Clark a criticism of Dean (01/13)
Abenaki chief wants NCAI to know Dean's record (11/20)