Federal Recognition | Opinion

James Rawlings: Connecticut tries to deny tribal recognition

Monday, July 21, 2014

James Rawlings. Photo from NAACP / Facebook

James Rawlings, the chairman of the Connecticut Native American Inter Tribal Urban Council, criticizes Connecticut for opposing reforms to the Part 83 federal recognition process:

Currently the U.S. government has proposed through the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which has the responsibility of approving federal recognition for qualified Native American tribes, a change that would expedite a positive ruling for tribes that have held land since 1934 as opposed to the previous land holding benchmark of 1900.
In reading a current draft of our Connecticut delegation’s communication to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, our state has voiced strong opposition to the proposed changes by the BIA that would ultimately grant our three remaining state tribes federal recognition. Our Connecticut delegation, out of fear of further recognition of qualified Native American tribes with federal recognition in Connecticut, contends that such recognition would disrupt the current contracts with the two other federally recognized tribes and that some of the current state-recognized tribes have “threatened” land claim, potentially causing economic hardship to non-Native Americans. This is the rational for blocking their constitutional rights.
Our delegation has further stated that more federally recognized tribes would result in loss of taxable land and federal lawsuits that might arise if the tribes desire to expand into developing casinos.
In reading through the history of how and why America has broken far too many treaties and promulgated negative policies impacting Native Americans, we find very familiar themes reappearing here again in Connecticut in the 21st century. Further, to hear our state take a position that as a state we will not negotiate any aspect of a reconciliation is exactly why the BIA was put into place: to protect entities such as states from further eroding the rights of the Native Americans. These rights and benefits are in our constitution and upheld continuously by the Supreme Court of this land.

Get the Story:
James Rawlings: Native American rights under attack again (The Torrington Register Citizen 7/21)

Federal Register Notice:
Federal Acknowledgment of American Indian Tribes (May 29, 2014)

Relevant Documents:
Proposed Rule | Press Release | Comparison Chart (comparing current rule to proposed rule) | Response to Comments on June 2013 Discussion Draft | Frequently Asked Questions