The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe is headed back to court today to seek action on its federal recognition petition.

The tribe wants the court to impose a deadline on the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The agency has not moved on the tribe's petition since 1996 and has said the wait could last several more.

The tribe had won a ruling that forced a timeline but it was overturned by an appeals court. Nothing has happened in the meantime.

The tribe would benefit under a bill seeking resolution of several outstanding petitions. The BIA testified last Friday that it opposes the bill.

Get the Story:
Tribe requests decision timeline (AP 2/14)
Marshall wins Wampanoag vote (The Cape Cod Times 2/14)

Court Decision:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe v. Norton (August 1, 2003)

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

Related Stories:
BIA opposes Pombo's federal recognition bill (2/11)
Bill addresses slow-moving recognition process (02/07)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe presses recognition bid (09/03)
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe rubs elbows at RNC (9/1)
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)