BIA weighs faster review of Shinnecock recognition
A lawsuit appears to be forcing the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take action on the federal recognition petition of the Shinnecock Nation of New York.

The BIA will make a decision by the end of the month whether to place the tribe on the top of its "ready list" of petitions, Newsday reports. If that happens, the tribe could finally receive an answer in another two years.

In a similar recognition lawsuit, the BIA was forced to move up a tribe in the list but an appeals court overturned the decision.

Get the Story:
Shinnecocks await ruling to move up federal status list (Newsday 10/8)

Court Decision:
Shinnecock Nation v. Kempthorne (September 30, 2008)

Related Stories:
Judge to consider Shinnecock Nation recognition (10/6)