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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2002

The Bureau of Indian Affairs was supposed to issue a preliminary decision on the federal status of the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts by the end of this week.

But the government has appealed a court directive to do just that. On March 21, an appeals court panel will hear arguments on whether to force the BIA to act, The Cape Cod Times reports.

The tribe applied for recognition in 1978. The only other tribe in the state with federal recognition is the Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe.

Get the Story:
Wampanoag tribal battle gets new court date (The Cape Cod Times 12/20)

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