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

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