Law | Federal Recognition

Eastern Pequot leaders face recall in battle over recognition





The entire council of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation of Connecticut is facing a recall over a disputed federal recognition lawsuit.

In a letter to a federal judge, Chairman Jim Cunha said the tribe didn't authorize the lawsuit. But Ashbow Sebastian, who serves as the tribe's war chief, said the entire tribal membership agreed to pursue the case.

"The appeal and any and all actions to protect our sovereign rights were authorized and have been continuously authorized by the tribal body, while most recently being voted upon and supported at its annual meeting last summer," Sebastian said in a statement provided to The New London Day.

The lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs was filed in federal court in Washington, D.C.

Get the Story:
Eastern Pequot official calls for recall of tribal council (The New London Day 2/13)

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