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MONDAY, JULY 30, 2001

Critics of federal recognition often point out the wealth such status can bring but the Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe of Massachusetts proves that is not always the case.

The tribe was recognized in 1987, a year before the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA) was passed. But like their Rhode Island neighbors, the Narraganssett Tribe, the tribal leadership has been unsuccessful in any sort of gaming because of local opposition.

The Nipmuc Nation is on the verge of receiving recognition and would be the second Massachusetts tribe to gain the status. The tribe wants to open a casino and may turn to Connecticut, home to two tribal casinos, to fulfill their goals.

Get the Story:
Fourteen years after recognition, Wampanoags still frustrated (AP 7/29)