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OCTOBER 16, 2000

Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, says any attempt to change the 1983 Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act would result in serious opposition from Native Americans and lack of support from Congress.

The act granted the Mashantucket Pequot Settlement Act federal recognition and settled the tribe's outstanding land claims. The state of Connecticut attempted to argue it also defined the borders of the tribe's reservation forever but were rebuffed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

Gover also says three local towns opposing the expansion of the tribe have a valid concern in setting a limit on the reservation's size. But he says to suggest the Department of Interior would take into land all of southeastern Connecticut is offensive.

Representative Sam Gejdenson (D-Conn), who introduced the act, said it won't be amended because it was never intended to limit the tribe's ability to ask the Interior to take land into trust.

Get the Decision:
Connecticut v. Babbitt (Second Circuit Court of Appeals. No. 99-6042. September 2000)

Get the Story:
Mashantucket Settlement Act Best Left Alone, Says BIA Chief (The New London Day 10/16)

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Pequot tribe tries to assuage fears (9/28)
Towns want 'sloppy' legislation fixed (9/27)
Residents want tribe to pay taxes (9/27)
Tribe wants to add more land (9/27)
Does a Pequot empire await? (Tribal Law 9/27)
Court rules against anti-Pequot towns (Tribal Law 9/26)
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