Two Connecticut tribes won't be allowed to submit more evidence to bolster their claims for federal recognition, the second-in-command at the Bureau of Indian Affairs said on Monday.

In a letter, principal deputy assistant secretary Mike Olsen told the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation that only the evidence on the record so far can be considered. He barred the tribes and other interested parties from contacting the BIA while new final determinations are being prepared to meet a September 12 deadline.

The decision came in light of a ruling from the Interior Board of Indian Appeals that vacated the original final determinations in favor of both tribes. The IBIA ruled that the BIA relied too heavily on state recognition.

Get the Story:
BIA deals setback to tribe (The Danbury News Times 5/24)
BIA Says Record closed For Rulings on Schaghticokes, Eastern Pequots (The New London Day 5/24)
pwday
BIA ruling deals blow to tribes (The Norwich Bulletin 5/24)
Indian bureau won't accept new data (The Waterbury Republican American 5/24)
Tribes Get Unfavorable News (The Hartford Courant 5/24)
pwpwd
BIA Issues Notice Of Timetable, Criteria To Rule On Tribes' Status (NBC30 5/23)

IBIA Decisions:
Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation | Schaghticoke Tribal Nation

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database (July 2004)

Relevant Links:
Schaghticoke Tribal Nation - http://www.schaghticoke.com
Interior Board of Indian Appeals Decisions - http://www.ibiadecisions.com

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