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DECEMBER 12, 2000

As the stakes are raised in the gamble for federal recognition, the enemies of tribes seeking acknowledgment are many, ranging from local opposition to other tribes, both recognized and non-recognized.

in their continuing series on Indian gaming and related issues, a Boston Globe report today looks at a researcher who has provided reports on the genealogy of several Connecticut tribes, including the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe and two Eastern Pequot Tribes.

While the paper calls researcher James Lynch a man who "debunks tribes," the Bureau of Indian Affairs has raised questions on the validity of some of the evidence he has provided.

At an August meeting discussing the recognition petitions of the Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribes, a lead BIA researcher said she could not rely on a genealoty report Lynch prepared for three towns who oppose the tribes. She said she researched some of the claims herself and found misrepresentations.

The paper does not report if Lynch responded to those criticisms, or those made by others. Nevertheless, Quiet Hawk of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe tells the Boston Globe that a Lynch report was responsible for the tribe's denial of recognition. The BIA is reconsidering that decision, however.

In a separate article, the Globe briefly looks at the debate on the genealogy of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation. A third article is an overview of the federal recognition guidelines.

Get the Story:
It's a war of genealogies - Recognition is a contentious process (The Boston Globe 12/12)
Lineage questions linger as gaming wealth grows (The Boston Globe 12/12)
Tribes scramble to get into the game (The Boston Globe 12/12)

Related Stories:
BIA 'bewildered' by state request (Tribal Law 8/10)
BIA tells tribe, state where to go (Tribal Law 8/10)
BIA: No evidence tribe existed (Tribal Law 8/10)
BIA: Towns not reliable (Tribal Law 8/9)
BIA meeting to focus on recognition (Tribal Law 8/4)