Federal Recognition
Editorial: Interior officials answering to enemies


Recognition Documents:
BIA Press Release | Eastern Pequot Notice | Schaghticoke Notice

Reaction to Decisions:
Eastern Pequot | Attorney General
Gov. Jodi Rell | Sens. Dodd, Lieberman
"The Interior Department's Oct. 12 reversal of recognition for two Connecticut tribes tells more about the federal government than it does about the very strong petitions of the Eastern Pequots and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. It says that senior Indian Affairs officials are too cowardly and careerist to be trusted to defend tribal interests. It also suggests to us that accusations of corruption at the White House level can no longer be ignored. One detail from Interior's action speaks volumes. Instead of telephoning tribal officials and speaking to tribal leadership directly, Associate Deputy Interior Secretary James Cason sent his decisions by fax. Aurene Martin, the last Indian to head the BIA, showed more courage last summer when she notified the Nipmuc Nation in a personal conference call about the equally dubious reversal of their recognition. We can understand the embarrassment and bad conscience at Interior, but this act of petty cowardice illuminates the deeper void in leadership at the BIA. Interior personnel are answering not to the tribes, but to their enemies.

Since the departures of Dave Anderson and Martin from the BIA, the Bush administration has made no visible effort to appoint a successor. The caretakers supervising the bureau have not made any attempt that we've noticed to speak against a constant stream of slanders against its staff. In fact, the acting head took the occasion of a meeting of tribal leaders (the United South and Eastern Tribes' mid-year session in July) to criticize the competency of his underlings.

The days when Kevin Gover would stand up to anti-Indian politicians are a distant memory. With this lack of support, it's no wonder that BIA professionals are demoralized and easily rolled."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A lack of Interior fortitude (Indian Country Today 10/13)

IBIA Decisions:
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation | Schaghticoke Tribal Nation

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

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

Related Stories:
Connecticut tribes rejected by Jim Cason (10/13)
Tribes vow fight after being denied recognition (10/13)
Editorial: Recognition decision shows bad process (10/13)
Editorial: Gaming has tainted recognition process (10/13)
Editorial: Recognition decisions 'proper and fair' (10/13)
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)