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SEPTEMBER 29, 2000

The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and the Connecticut towns of Ledyard, North Stonington, and Preston need to talk and resolve their issues, said Representative Sam Gejdenson (D-Conn) on Thursday.

The issues, however, appear to be mostly town-initiated. The towns have an ordinance which requires them to oppose annexation of land by the tribe.

Their fight led to the loss of a lawsuit in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals this week, however. The court ruled the Department of Interior is not prohibited from taking land into trust for the tribe, despite the state's intepretation of the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act.

The towns are also calling for a Congressional investigation of the act. But so far, they have been unable to convince lawmakers to conduct one.

In The New London Day, town leaders scoffed at Gejdenson's suggestion. They say they have been unable to talk with the tribe and that Gejdenson isn't addressing any issues.

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

Get the Story:
Gejdenson says towns and tribe need dialogue (The New London Day 9/29)

Related Stories:
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)