Shinnecock Nation waits for answer on recognition

The Shinnecock Nation of New York is ninth in line for an answer on its federal recognition petition.

The tribe began the process in 1978. After submitting additional documentation, its petition was finally placed on the "active" list by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in September 2003.

That doesn't mean answer is coming soon. The BIA's backlog could have the tribe waiting until 2014, at the earliest.

In hopes of moving the process along, the tribe filed suit in federal court. A judge ruled that the tribe was a legitimate Indian nation but the BIA won't put the tribe on the list of federally recognized entities until the petition is resolved.

Meanwhile, the tribe faces court battles with the state of New York. One suit, over plans to build a casino, is still pending while the other one, over a land claim, was recently dismissed.

Get the Story:
Shinnecocks waiting to be recognized (Newsday 1/16)

Land Claim Court Decision:
Shinnecock Nation v. New York (November 28, 2006)

Federal Recognition Court Decision:
New York v. Shinnecock Nation (November 7, 2005)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Relevant Links:
Shinnecock Nation - http://www.shinnecocknation.com

Related Stories:
Trial continues over Shinnecock Nation's sovereignty (12/15)
Shinnecock Nation in court over land, recognition (12/13)
Judge cites passage of time in Shinnecock land claim (12/6)
Historian claims Shinnecock Nation gave up land (12/5)
Trial continues over Shinnecock Nation status (10/2)
Judge urges compromise with Shinnecock Nation (10/13)
Shinnecock Nation asserts sovereignty over land (10/11)
Unofficial Shinnecock Nation election results (04/05)
Shinnecock Nation must wait for recognition (01/09)
Shinnecock Nation holds rally after hate crime (12/21)
Race has long been an issue for Shinnecock Nation (12/01)
Norton lobbied on Shinnecock Nation recognition (11/15)
BIA calls Shinnecock decision 'out of the ordinary' (11/9)
Shinnecock Nation wins big in federal court (11/8)
Shinnecock Nation tackles substance abuse (08/23)
Shinnecock Nation wants lawsuit dismissed (08/01)
Big workload looms for BIA on federal recognition (07/26)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation should drop lawsuit (07/18)
Shinnecock Nation backers hold Pombo fundraiser (7/13)
Building homes on Shinnecock Nation often a struggle (07/07)
Little Caesars founder backs Shinnecock Nation (7/1)
Opinion: Shinnecock Nation recognition a long shot (6/30)
Shinnecock claim influenced by Oneida Nation decision (6/27)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation right to file claim (6/23)
Column: Shinnecock Nation only seeks a future (6/20)
Column: Shinnecock Nation took too long to sue (6/20)
Tribe's lawsuit claims pricey Hamptons properties (6/17)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation needs answer from BIA (6/17)
Shinnecock Nation takes land claim papers to court (6/16)
Shinnecock Nation runs ads in support of land claim (6/15)
Shinnecock Nation cites fraud in theft of land (6/14)
Shinnecock Nation to file billion-dollar land claim (6/13)
Shinnecock Nation lays claim to bones of 60-foot whale (04/06)
Ties between Shinnecock Nation, golf club tested (06/11)
BIA doesn't want judge to rule on Shinnecock Nation (04/27)
Editorial: Shinnecock Nation deserves an answer (04/02)
House panel sympathetic to tribes on recognition (04/01)
Hearing used to air complaints about tribal recognition (04/01)
Federal recognition process subject of two hearings (03/31)
Judge to have 'final word' on Shinnecock recognition (01/28)
Shinnecock Nation case tests legal waters (1/26)
Shinnecock leaders compare opposition to genocide (1/22)
BIA wants Shinnecocks to wait a decade for status (12/18)
N.Y. opinion affirmed Shinnecock Nation sovereignty (09/19)
Decision awaited in Shinnecock casino case (08/06)
Mont. court recognizes tribe through common law (05/01)