Eastern Pequot Fight for Equality
Donation protected
Summary:
We are the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation - a Native American tribe based in North Stonington, CT. In 2005 we lost our federal recognition which includes health, housing and education assistance along with the ability to engage in economic development and exist as an independent entity. We need your help to fund a petition that will allow us to re-apply for federal recognition under regulations that ensure equal rights . Your donation will support tribal operations and our fight for justice! For a more detailed description see below.
Who We Are:
The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation>> is a historic state-recognized Native American tribe located in North Stonington, Connecticut. We are a tribe of over 1000 enrolled members, many of whom live on our 224 acre reservation; a piece of land that was deeded to the tribe in 1683 and has been continuously occupied for well over 300 years. Despite this, we are struggling for our survival and fighting for equal rights. We need your help in that fight.
The Problem:
In 2005, a few years after the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had issued two positive decisions, one to extend consideration and another final positive ruling, our federal recognition was politically stripped away when the State of Connecticut and 29 surrounding towns appealed the BIA decision.
The State of Connecticut and the surrounding towns have done everything to thwart our federal recognition efforts and tribal survival. They are stopping us from economic development and gaining health, housing, and education assistance. While we have had to seek funding from donors, the State is using taxpayer dollars to fight us.
So what does this mean?
A federally recognized tribe is an American Indian or Alaskan Native tribal entity that is determined, by a list of standards and qualifications (see here>> ), to be capable of possessing rights as a self-governing body. This allows recognized tribes to interact with the federal government as a sovereign nation and receive certain federal benefits (see below) and protections. It takes an extremely long time in, what is considered an inherently broken system, to obtain these rights. The EPTN started petitioning when the federal recognition process began in 1978!
Benefits include, but are not limited to:
> Access to healthcare – The Indian Health Service and Urban Indian Health Program, agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, provide healthcare, health advocacy and development of healthcare delivery systems within reservation and urban settings to federally recognized tribes. Without access to these services, members of our tribe who suffer from long term or acute illnesses may not be receiving the treatment they need.
> Access to housing – Under the Office of Native American Programs, a division of US Department of Housing and Urban Development, federally recognized tribal members can receive housing assistance through housing loan programs, grants and other funding programs. Without access to housing assistance, some members of our tribe may find it difficult to obtain and keep housing.
> Educational opportunities – The federal government works with federally recognized tribes to achieve certain educational goals including: closing the achievement gap, decreasing dropout rates and preserving native languages, among other things. In addition, most scholarships catering to native populations are limited to students from federally recognized tribes. Youth who have the merit to attend college, for example, may find difficulty paying for their education.
Why was our recognition take away?
This answer is best summed by a resolution of support issued by the National Congress of American Indians #ABQ-03-135, in 2003:
“Whereas less than 90 days following the recognition, the Attorney General of Connecticut and 29 towns filed an appeal with the IBIA asking that the Assistant Secretary’s final decision be reversed; and the State of Connecticut and other appellants appear driven not by concerns about compliance with the recognition regulations, but instead by a desire to stop the expansion of Indian gaming and prohibit future acquisition of federal trust land in Connecticut to ensure that the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation can never bring a claim for land against the state; and the action of the State of Connecticut in appealing the federal recognition of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation is an attempt to undermine the process of federal recognition of Indian tribes and hurts all tribes.”
Ironically, the state of Connecticut is currently pushing for the construction of three additional casinos under joint ownership of current gaming tribes in the state to combat competition from developing casinos in neighboring Springfield, MA. View our response here>>
Bottom Line:
As a state-recognized tribe of over 1000 enrolled members we do not have access to federal benefits that ensure that native populations survive and thrive as independent entities. That’s where you come in.
Why we need your help:
Right now the US Department of the Interior (DOI) allows state and local governments to decide whether tribal nations can re-petition for federal recognition. This has the potential to allow special interests to take precedence over set guidelines. This decision is not only morally reprehensible; it is also arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with the laws of the United States. We request your support of our petition to BIA for an equal opportunity to re-apply for federal recognition from the DOI under the proposed rule changes to the federal acknowledgement process - 25 CFR Part 83>> .
We believe that justice requires that all tribes be allowed to participate in the reformed recognition process. Your donation will support tribal operations, including rent and utilities for our Longhouse, media and public relations, legal assistance, and travel to BIA to ensure a fair process. We greatly appreciate your generous donation and kind attention to this critical matter.
Relevant Links:
Eastern Pequot Tribe History >>
Comments to BIAs Proposed Final Regulations for Federal Recognition - Councilor Katherine Sebastian-Dring>>
We are the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation - a Native American tribe based in North Stonington, CT. In 2005 we lost our federal recognition which includes health, housing and education assistance along with the ability to engage in economic development and exist as an independent entity. We need your help to fund a petition that will allow us to re-apply for federal recognition under regulations that ensure equal rights . Your donation will support tribal operations and our fight for justice! For a more detailed description see below.
Who We Are:
The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation>> is a historic state-recognized Native American tribe located in North Stonington, Connecticut. We are a tribe of over 1000 enrolled members, many of whom live on our 224 acre reservation; a piece of land that was deeded to the tribe in 1683 and has been continuously occupied for well over 300 years. Despite this, we are struggling for our survival and fighting for equal rights. We need your help in that fight.
The Problem:
In 2005, a few years after the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) had issued two positive decisions, one to extend consideration and another final positive ruling, our federal recognition was politically stripped away when the State of Connecticut and 29 surrounding towns appealed the BIA decision.
The State of Connecticut and the surrounding towns have done everything to thwart our federal recognition efforts and tribal survival. They are stopping us from economic development and gaining health, housing, and education assistance. While we have had to seek funding from donors, the State is using taxpayer dollars to fight us.
So what does this mean?
A federally recognized tribe is an American Indian or Alaskan Native tribal entity that is determined, by a list of standards and qualifications (see here>> ), to be capable of possessing rights as a self-governing body. This allows recognized tribes to interact with the federal government as a sovereign nation and receive certain federal benefits (see below) and protections. It takes an extremely long time in, what is considered an inherently broken system, to obtain these rights. The EPTN started petitioning when the federal recognition process began in 1978!
Benefits include, but are not limited to:
> Access to healthcare – The Indian Health Service and Urban Indian Health Program, agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, provide healthcare, health advocacy and development of healthcare delivery systems within reservation and urban settings to federally recognized tribes. Without access to these services, members of our tribe who suffer from long term or acute illnesses may not be receiving the treatment they need.
> Access to housing – Under the Office of Native American Programs, a division of US Department of Housing and Urban Development, federally recognized tribal members can receive housing assistance through housing loan programs, grants and other funding programs. Without access to housing assistance, some members of our tribe may find it difficult to obtain and keep housing.
> Educational opportunities – The federal government works with federally recognized tribes to achieve certain educational goals including: closing the achievement gap, decreasing dropout rates and preserving native languages, among other things. In addition, most scholarships catering to native populations are limited to students from federally recognized tribes. Youth who have the merit to attend college, for example, may find difficulty paying for their education.
Why was our recognition take away?
This answer is best summed by a resolution of support issued by the National Congress of American Indians #ABQ-03-135, in 2003:
“Whereas less than 90 days following the recognition, the Attorney General of Connecticut and 29 towns filed an appeal with the IBIA asking that the Assistant Secretary’s final decision be reversed; and the State of Connecticut and other appellants appear driven not by concerns about compliance with the recognition regulations, but instead by a desire to stop the expansion of Indian gaming and prohibit future acquisition of federal trust land in Connecticut to ensure that the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation can never bring a claim for land against the state; and the action of the State of Connecticut in appealing the federal recognition of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation is an attempt to undermine the process of federal recognition of Indian tribes and hurts all tribes.”
Ironically, the state of Connecticut is currently pushing for the construction of three additional casinos under joint ownership of current gaming tribes in the state to combat competition from developing casinos in neighboring Springfield, MA. View our response here>>
Bottom Line:
As a state-recognized tribe of over 1000 enrolled members we do not have access to federal benefits that ensure that native populations survive and thrive as independent entities. That’s where you come in.
Why we need your help:
Right now the US Department of the Interior (DOI) allows state and local governments to decide whether tribal nations can re-petition for federal recognition. This has the potential to allow special interests to take precedence over set guidelines. This decision is not only morally reprehensible; it is also arbitrary and capricious and not in accordance with the laws of the United States. We request your support of our petition to BIA for an equal opportunity to re-apply for federal recognition from the DOI under the proposed rule changes to the federal acknowledgement process - 25 CFR Part 83>> .
We believe that justice requires that all tribes be allowed to participate in the reformed recognition process. Your donation will support tribal operations, including rent and utilities for our Longhouse, media and public relations, legal assistance, and travel to BIA to ensure a fair process. We greatly appreciate your generous donation and kind attention to this critical matter.
Relevant Links:
Eastern Pequot Tribe History >>
Comments to BIAs Proposed Final Regulations for Federal Recognition - Councilor Katherine Sebastian-Dring>>
Organizer
Ali Owens
Organizer
Main Street, CT
