Abenaki Nation loses federal recogniton bid

Monday, June 25, 2007  

The Abenaki Nation of Vermont has lost its bid to become a federally recognized tribe.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Friday said the tribe did not meet four of the seven criteria for recognition. The tribe failed to prove descent from the historic Abenaki tribe, continuous identification as an Indian tribe, continuous existence as a distinct community and continuous exertion of political authority over its members.

The final determination issued by assistant secretary Carl Artman upholds a proposed finding from November 2005. The decision becomes effective within 90 days after publication of a notice in the Federal Register unless the tribe or other interested parties ask for an appeal.

Get the Story:
Feds deny tribe key recognition (AP 6/23)
Press Release: Artman Issues a Final Determination to Decline Acknowledgment of the St. Francis / Sokoki Band of Abenakis of Vermont (BIA 6/22)

Only on Indianz.Com:
Federal Recognition Database V2.0 (May 2005)

Relevant Links:
Abenaki Nation - http://www.abenakination.org

Related Stories:
Vermont Indian commission clashes with state (02/20)
BIA grants Abenaki Nation delay on recognition (01/22)

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Abenaki Nation nears recognition in Vermont (04/06)
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Big workload looms for BIA on federal recognition (07/26)
Abenaki Nation recognition bill advances in Vermont (05/12)
Abenaki Nation presses case for state recognition (05/05)
Bill to recognize Abenaki Nation advances in Vermont (04/15)
State removes 'Abenaki' from tribe's contract (03/31)
Abenakis press Vermont for state recognition (02/16)
Bill in Vermont seeks to recognize Abenaki Nation (02/14)
Tribe's endorsement of Clark a criticism of Dean (01/13)
Abenaki chief wants NCAI to know Dean's record (11/20)