The Delaware Tribe of Oklahoma hopes to regain its federal recognition within a year, chief Jerry Douglas said.

The tribe was removed from the list of federally recognized entities last year. The Cherokee Nation brought a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs for treating the Delawares as a separate tribe.

The Delawares and the Cherokees are now in agreement on restoring recognition and a bill has been drafted that would give the Cherokees authority over land-into-trust applications within a 14-county area in northeastern Oklahoma. The Delawares would still be able to seek land outside the 14-county area.

The bill will be sponsored by Rep. John Sullivan (R-Oklahoma). The tribes are looking for a Senate sponsor.

Get the Story:
Delawares closer to federal recognition (The Tulsa World 8/16)

10th Circuit Decision:
Cherokee Nation v. Norton (November 16, 2004)

Lower Court Decision:
Cherokee Nation v. DOI (7/23)

Relevant Documents:
Federal Register Notice/Ada Deer Announcement (September 1996)

Relevant Links:
Delaware Tribe of Indians - http://www.delawaretribeofindians.nsn.us
Cherokee Nation - http://www.cherokee.org

Related Stories:
Delaware Tribe agrees to Cherokee Nation authority (7/28)
Delaware Tribe to auction historic headquarters (06/27)
New Delaware chief seeks deal with Cherokee Nation (02/03)
New Delaware chairman makes recognition a priority (1/26)
Delaware Tribe continues fight to regain recognition (1/18)
Delaware Tribe closes up after losing recognition (12/12)
Loss of Delaware recognition prompts recall of chief (11/09)
Supreme Court refuses Delaware Tribe's case (10/04)
Delaware Tribe kicked off federally recognized list (03/22)
Delaware Tribe loses separate federal status (11/17)
'Fight the Cherokee Nation until hell freezes over' (11/17)
Oklahoma tribes lead pack in out-of-state land claims (08/16)
Delaware Tribe wants out-of-state land for casino (10/19)
Delaware Tribe seeks land in Kansas for gaming (04/23)
Delaware tribal ties to Penn. uncontested (05/20)
Delaware ancestor was granted 315 acres in Penn. (5/16)
Delaware tribal status dispute continues (08/01)
Okla. tribe seeks Cherokee independence (7/31)
Clinton signs a final Indian bill (12/29)