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OCTOBER 23, 2000

Robert D. Tobin, a lawyer who provides legal assistance to the Eastern Pequot Tribe, says The New London Day is wrong to ask Congress to "fix" the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act.

The act was passed to settle the tribe's outstanding land claims and to extend federal recognition to them. Tobin says for the paper, the towns, and the state to want the legislation changed goes against the history of land claims settlements. He also says the paper implies that Connecticut's Congressional delegation didn't know what they were doing, when in fact, they had prior legislation to look at and subsequently settled the claims of the Mohegan Tribe in the same manner.

Tobin also says the paper should stop "scaring" readers with stories and opinions about the ability of the tribe to purchase all the land it wants and turn it into Indian Country. Tobin says the regulations prescribed by the Department of Interior would prohibit such an action from ever taking place.

Get the Ruling:
Connecticut v. Babbitt (Second Circuit Court of Appeals. No. 99-6042. September 2000)

Get the Story:
Commentary: Playing Dumb(The New London Day 10/22)

Related Stories:
Pequot law won't be changed (Tribal Law 10/06)
Lawyer claims rules directed at towns (Tribal Law 10/5)
Anti-Pequot towns: No one's helping us (9/28)
Pequot tribe tries to assuage fears (9/28)
Towns want 'sloppy' legislation fixed (9/27)
Residents want tribe to pay taxes (9/27)
Tribe wants to add more land (9/27)
Does a Pequot empire await? (Tribal Law 9/27)
Court rules against anti-Pequot towns (Tribal Law 9/26)
Towns optimistic about Pequot suit (Tribal Law 06/15)