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THURSDAY, MARCH 20, 2003

Connecticut attorney general Richard Blumenthal is in a tizzy over the nomination of a state tribe for a prestigious Harvard University award.

Ed Sarabia, coordinator of the state's Office of American Indian Affairs, nominated the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation for Harvard's "Honoring Nations" program, which recognizes tribal excellence. When informed of this, Blumenthal blasted Sarabia for acting without "authority," The New London Day reports.

"This state employee has absolutely no authority to make such a nomination on behalf of the State, and we are consulting with the Governor's office as to appropriate action," Blumenthal said in a statement quoted by the paper.

Sarabia nominated the tribe because of its recent efforts to unify two rival factions. But Blumenthal is opposing the tribe's federal recognition, which was approved by former assistant secretary Neal McCaleb last summer.

If the Pequot tribe is chosen as a finalist in the Harvard program, it would receive $10,000.

Get the Story:
Easterns In Running For Harvard Grant Funds (The New London Day 3/20)

Relevant Links:
Connecticut Attorney General - http://www.cslib.org/attygenl
Honoring Nations - http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/hpaied/hn_main.htm