The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts will finally receive an answer to its bid for federal recognition.

The tribe began its effort in 1975 with a land claim lawsuit. But defeat came when a jury ruled that the tribe hadn't functioned continuously as a government.

The tribe subsequently filed a petition with the Bureau of Indian Affairs but has been on the waiting list for more than a decade. An answer will finally come in March 2006, when the BIA makes a preliminary ruling on the tribe's status. A final decision is expected by March 2007.

Get the Story:
Wampanoag recognition uneasy to some (AP 8/5)

Relevant Links:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe - http://mashpeewampanoagtribe.com

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