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AUGUST 3, 2000

A family who has been denied membership by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation is asking Congress to amend the 1983 law which recognized the tribe.

The tribe's membership requirements say anyone descended from Pequots who lived on their Connecticut reservation as listed on censuses from 1900 and 1910 can join. The Simonds family weren't on the census and Millicent Hazard-Smalley and her brother, Frederick Smalley, have been denied membership because they are descendants of the family.

The Smalley's wrote the House of Representatives Committee on Resources, asking them to amend the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act in order to allow them to be enrolled. But only the tribe can change their membership policies.

Chairman Kenneth Reels has said he favors changing the requirements in order to let descendants of the Simonds family join.

Get the Story:
Family looks for assistance in attempt to join Pequots (The New London Day 8/3)

Without Reservation Jeff Benedict. Read our review. Buy the book that has been causing so much controversy.

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