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FRIDAY, MARCH 29, 2002

The Bureau of Indian Affairs staff which researchers federal recognition petitions did not formally object to the positive preliminary reviews of the Eastern Pequot Tribe and the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot Tribe.

An internal Department of Interior report on federal recognition contained a mistake which said otherwise, Inspector General Earl Deveney wrote in a memo. The memo was obtained by officials from the two Connecticut tribes.

Former Assistant Secretary Kevin Gover in April 2000 said the tribes deserved recognition although the staff did not agree. In subsequent meetings, they noted their dissent but defended Gover's right to overrule them.

Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb has been ordered to issue a final determination by June 4.

Get the Story:
Recognition odds for local tribes open to interpretation (The New London Day 3/29)

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