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JUNE 1, 2000

The Connecticut towns of Preston, Ledyard, and North Stonington reiterated their request for assistance from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in a letter sent to the agency by the towns' Washington, DC based law firm on Tuesday.

The towns allege the failure of the BIA to communicate with them in a timely manner is affecting their ability to adequately respond within the 180-day comment period following the preliminary federal recognition of the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot and the Eastern Pequot tribes of Connecticut.

Indianz.Com reported on May 24 (See BIA: No assistance to states) that the towns will not receive any help from the agency. BIA Spokesman Rex Hackler confirmed that the Bureau does not provide "technical assistance" to any interested parties, including the towns.

Under the Code of Federal Regulations regarding the federal acknowledgement process, the BIA only has to respond to formal meetings such as the one requested by state Attorney General Mark Blumenthal.

In an interview with Indianz.Com on May 24, First Selectman Robert Congdon of Preston reported as of that date, the towns had not been officially invited to the meeting Blumenthal requested. Selectman Congdon indicated that the towns would seek a more formal meeting in the event they are not included.

He also stated in the interview that the towns are busy working to comply with the 180-day time limit but are prepared "to use all remedies available to us" and would "exercise discretion" if they aren't able to respond appropriately to the Bureau.

In a May 25 report by Indianz.Com, Congdon expressed his frustrations with the BIA, saying Kevin Gover has made a "mockery" of the entire recognition process (See Town: Gover a 'mockery').

Get the Story:
State seeks BIA meeting (Tribal Law 5/23)
BIA: No assistance to states (Tribal Law 5/24)
Town: Gover a 'mockery' (The Talking Circle 5/25)
Towns criticize BIA for not responding to information request (The New London Day 6/1)

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