The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Connecticut filed a lawsuit in federal court on Thursday in hopes of gaining federal recognition.

The lawsuit accuses state officials, politicians and their lobbyists of improperly influencing the recognition process, The Hartford Courant reported. The tribe cited letters to the Bush administration, bills introduced in Congress, the hiring of a well-connected Republican lobbying firm and testimony before the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.

The tribe was initially granted recognition in January 2004. But after an appeal by the state, the decision was thrown out and the Bureau of Indian Affairs was ordered to reconsider. In October 2005, the BIA said the tribe failed to meet the criteria for recognition.

Get the Story:
Tribal Nation Files Appeal (The Hartford Courant 1/13)
pwday
Kent tribe files appeal in bid for recognition (The Litchfield News-Times 1/13)

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:
Schaghticoke groups battle over reservation (01/04)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation seeks BIA documents (12/20)
Connecticut tribes vow to fight for recognition (12/05)
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation seeks recognition probe (12/1)
Eastern Pequots to keep fighting for recognition (10/25)
Column: A sad end to tribal recognition saga (10/14)
Editorial: BIA finally plays it straight on recognition (10/14)
Schaghticoke chief blasts tribes, state for denial (10/14)
Editorial: Interior officials answering to enemies (10/14)
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)