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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2002

Two factions of a Connecticut tribe filed for federal recognition last year, competing with a third whose status is due to be acted upon by the Bureau of Indian Affairs in August.

The Schaghticoke Indian Tribe and the Schaghticoke Tribe filed letters of intent to petition for federal acknowledgment last year. The Schaghticoke Indian Tribe filed its letter in May 2001; the Schaghticoke Tribe in September 2001.

The pair join the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, who filed for recognition in 1981 and has been on the BIA's "ready" list, awaiting a decision, since 1997. In response to a lawsuit over the slow-moving process, a federal judge last year ordered the BIA to issue a preliminary decision on the petition by August.

Led by Richard L. Velky, the legitimacy of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation has been challenged by leaders of other factions.

Last year, the BIA received 12 letters from groups seeking recognition. A Federal Register Notice published December 27, 2000, lists the names and addresses of the groups.

Get the Federal Register Notice:
TXT | PDF

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

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Judge turns Schaghticoke recognition back to BIA (5/10)
Federal recognition battles continue (5/10)