"Connecticut's elected officials have gone far beyond hypocrisy and have ventured into waters that no civilized society should countenance. They want several Indian tribes in the state declared ''extinct'' even though these tribes have been recognized by the colonial and state governments right up to the day that the assistant secretary for Indian Affairs recognized them as Indian tribes under federal law. Now we come to find out that the state, in urging this policy of extinction on the federal government, used its political influence behind closed doors in the Department of Interior and the White House while the tribes honored the federally imposed ban on ex parte contact.

History repeats itself. The Indians honor the law, the state does not; the state wins, and two Connecticut Indian tribes are wiped off the books. What a civics lesson for our children and grandchildren. It's too bad they can't blame this one on Jack Abramoff, because the state obviously used his playbook or at least that of the ''K Street Project.'' What irony - Connecticut public officials of the Democratic Party seeking, and paying for with public funds, the influence of Republican operatives to prove that two of its Indian tribes don't exist and don't warrant federal recognition. Maybe Rep. Henry Waxman and his committee should look into this matter when the new Congress meets. I'll bet you dollars to frybread that they don't.

We now apparently have (thanks to Connecticut) a federal policy that allows state governments and their local units of government to expend huge public resources to get rid of Indian tribes by advocating a federal policy of ''de-recognition'' of tribes that have been recognized for centuries; a policy that allows the states to prove, in essence, that they had successfully wiped out their Indian nations.

It is apparent that Connecticut, its elected officials, including a Jewish senator who would send our Indian men and women to war to defeat yet another tyrant who wants to wipe the Jewish people from the Earth, believes it is morally and politically appropriate to wipe Indian nations from the face of the Earth. Whether it is done by the pen or the sword, the net effect is the eventual disappearance of the Indian nations effectuated by policies like those of the state of Connecticut. This cannot and should not be acceptable behavior to the rest of the Jewish people. "

Get the Story:
Harold Monteau: Final solution for Connecticut tribes violates international law (Indian Country Today 12/15)

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:
Norton, Cason called to testify on recognition (11/17)
Ex-BIA head Martin counters Cason on recognition (08/28)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation sues recognition opponents (07/11)
BIA ruling on Schaghticoke recognition criticized (04/11)
Connecticut tribes worried about BIA leadership (03/16)
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation sues for recognition (01/13)
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)