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SEPTEMBER 22, 2000

The Eastern Pequot and Paucatuck Eastern Pequot tribes of Connecticut say they support an investigation into the BIA's recognition process.

The two tribes have been the subject of scrutiny by three local towns and the state of Connecticut. The BIA held a two-day public meeeting to discuss how it evaluated evidence presented by the tribes and whether or not the evidence satisfied the federal recognition criteria.

Although both tribes say an investigation won't hamper their recognition efforts, the two might be the most affected by a potential inquiry. One of the issues several Republican members of Congress have asked the General Accounting Office to investigate is whether or not recognized tribes actually satisified the acknowledgment criteria.

Neither tribe satisified all seven mandatory criteria for all periods of time. Generally, the BIA requires that petitioning groups present evidence which satisify the criteria for every decade from the late 1800s to present time.

However, both groups failed to meet some criteria for most of the 1900s. But the BIA issued a preliminary finding in favor of the tribes, in light of their long-standing relationship with the state of Connecticut.

Get the Story:
Republicans call for BIA investigation (Tribal Law 9/22)
Lawmakers call for probe of BIA policies (The New London Day 9/22)

Relevant Links:
The Bureau of Indian Affairs - www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs.html
Eastern Pequot Preliminary Recognition - www.doi.gov/bia/bar/epdx.htm
Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Preliminary Recognition - www.doi.gov/bia/bar/pepdx.htm