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THURSDAY, AUGUST 23, 2001

The Eastern Pequot Tribe and the Paucatuck Eastern Tribe each have submitted reports to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, arguing that they should be recognized despite lacking proof they satisfy all federal criteria for all periods in time.

In a 600-page report, the Eastern Pequot Tribe says the criteria are too strict and make it harder for tribes in the eastern states to fulfill. The rules are based on European concepts of what a tribe should be, the report claims.

In a 225-page report, the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribe says its members are the true descendants of the historic tribe. The Eastern membership is composed of "squatters" who lived on the Lantern Hill Reservation in Connecticut, the report says.

Both tribes received preliminary recognition in March 2000 but with the requirement that they address gaps in the evidentiary record. By the end of the year, Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb will issue a final determination on the two.

Get the Story:
Easterns Say BIA Rules Too Stringent (The New London Day 8/23)