Interior board rejects Nipmuc recognition appeals

Thursday, September 13, 2007  

Two Nipmuc tribes in Massachusetts who were denied federal recognition by the Bush administration have lost their appeals.

The Hassanamisco Nipmuc Nation and the Webster-Dudley Band of Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck Indians asked the Interior Board of Indian Appeals to overturn their negative decisions. The Bureau of Indian Affairs ruled that neither tribe met all of the mandatory recognition criteria.

The IBIA referred some issues to the Interior Department to consider. The tribes hadn't seen the ruling so they couldn't comment.

In the final days of the Clinton administration, the BIA issued a preliminary ruling in favor of the Hassanamisco Nipmuc Nation and against the Chaubunagungamaug Nipmuck Indians. When President Bush took over the White House, both decision were suspended and reviewed, with the BIA denying recognition to both groups.

Get the Story:
Nipmucs fail with feds again (The Worcester Telegraph & Gazette 9/12)

$rl Nipmuc Nation - http://www.nipmucnation.org

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