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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2001

Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs Michael Anderson is supporting the creation of an independent presidential commission to decide on federal recognition.

The commission is needed, said Anderson, because researchers at the Bureau of Indian Affairs have allowed themselves to be harassed by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and three towns who oppose the recognition of two Pequot tribes. And since the researchers are biased, they shouldn't be allowed to sit on the commission, he said.

After initially opposing the idea, the Clinton administration last year supported a bill offered by Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) to create the commission. The Bush administration, under Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb, opposes the bill.

Former Assistant Secretary Kevin Gover told Indianz.Com he has no problems with BIA researchers sitting on the commission. The Native American Rights Fund, which represents several tribes seeking recognition, agrees with Anderson.

Get the Story:
Report: Tribal recognition process flawed (The New London Day 11/6)

Today on Indianz.Com:
Recognition report offers little surprises (11/6)

Relevant Links:
Branch of Acknowledgment and Research - http://www.doi.gov/bia/ack_res.html

Related Stories:
Deadline nearing for Chinook Nation (11/5)
Gover: Recognition study 'cooked' (11/1)
Reforming federal recognition (10/26)
Gover takes on recognition (10/25)
Conn. town encouraged by BIA dispute (10/17)
Norton urged to uphold recognition (10/11)
Chinook Nation faces reversal (10/3)
McCaleb reverses Clinton recognitions (9/28)