federal recognition – Page 19

Shinnecock Wins IBIA Appeal — Become 565th Federally Recognized Tribe — UPDATED with IBIA Decision

October 1, 2010May 16, 2014Matthew L.M. Fletcher1 Comment

Here is the IBIA decision: 38553324-Shinnecock-Decision

The Shinnecock Indian Nation received word Friday afternoon from its tribal attorneys that it is now officially the 565th Native American tribe to earn recognition from the U.S. government, according to Shinnecock Tribal Trustee Lance Gumbs.

Though neither the Interior Board of Indian Appeals or the Bureau of Indian Affairs has yet to formally announce the news, the Shinnecock Nation has cleared all the hurdles to federal recognition, the trustee said.

“The first day of October will live forever in the hearts and minds of the Shinnecock people,” Mr. Gumbs said in an phone interview Friday. “Everyone is just relieved and shedding tears for not only us who are here, but those who just missed it,” he said. He explained that some Shinnecock elders have died since July 19, when the tribe’s recognition application was originally expected to be finalized.

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Materials in Shinnecock Federal Recognition Appeal before the IBIA

September 21, 2010Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are a few selected briefs:

BIA Brief on Interested Parties

Shinnecock Answer Brief

CCGJ – Supple Brief – Merits

CCGJ Standing Brief

Montauk Reply

Sandy Lake Chippewa Sues BIA for Federal Recognition

September 2, 2010Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint: Big Sandy Complaint

From Indianz:

The Sandy Lake Band of Mississippi Chippewa is suing the Bureau of Indian Affairs in hopes of gaining federal recognition.

The tribe, based in Minnesota, signed treaties with the U.S. as far back as 1825. In 1915, President Woodrow Wilson created a reservation for the tribe by executive order.

Despite the actions, the BIA has never placed the tribe on the list of federally recognized entities. The tribe has about 90 members, Chairwoman Sandy Skinaway said.

Get the Story:

Group of Indians sues BIA for federal recognition (AP 9/1)

Shinnecock Nation Wins Procedural Victory in Federal Recognition Appeal

September 2, 2010Matthew L.M. Fletcher6 Comments

From tv, via Pechanga:

The Connecticut gaming group spearheading the challenge to the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s long-sought federal recognition was denied extra time to file additional paperwork in support of their argument in a ruling in early August.

The decision is a minor victory for the members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation, who have waited decades for federal recognition, and who want the legal challenge to their bid filed by the Connecticut Coalition for Gaming Jobs to be resolved as quickly as possible. Shinnecock Tribal Trustee Lance Gumbs had expressed frustration earlier this summer that the challenges had halted the tribe’s official federal recognition essentially on the eve of when they were slated to receive the designation.

“Obviously, their stuff was frivolous and they weren’t prepared,” Mr. Gumbs said of the CCGJ’s denied request. “It is what it is. They brought a frivolous suit and tried to build a case around it.”

The Interior Board of Indian Appeals, or IBIA, which is an administrative judicial department within the U.S. Department of the Interior charged with reviewing objections to federal recognition, denied the motion on August 4. If granted, the motion would have given CCGJ an additional month to file papers in support of its standing within the case against the Shinnecock Indian Nation. The board stated that CCGJ has already submitted arguments on its standing after initially filing 400 pages of arguments in July.

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Materials in Mishewal Wappo Federal Recognition Case

July 31, 2010Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here are materials in Mishewal Wappo Tribe of Alexander Valley v. Salazar (N.D. Cal.):

Mishewal Wappo Complaint

Counties Motion to Dismiss

Cloverdale Rancheria Complaint for Federal Recognition

July 31, 2010Matthew L.M. Fletcher

Here is the complaint in Cloverdale Rancheria of Pomo Indians v. Salazar (N.D. Cal.): Cloverdale Rancheria Complaint

News Coverage on Shinnecock Response to Opposition

July 21, 2010Matthew L.M. Fletcher3 Comments

From Newsday mobile:

Incensed by two last-minute attempts to block their federal recognition, leaders of the Shinnecock Indian Nation called on the entire 1,200-person membership to attend a court hearing in Central Islip Wednesday as they fight to put their long-awaited status back on track.

On the day the nation was to celebrate its first day as a federally recognized tribe, one leader said a sense of sadness had been replaced by one of resolve. “We’ll continue to fight,” said senior trustee Lance Gumbs.

Chairman Randy King said he called on the entire tribal membership to attend the court hearing Wednesday “to celebrate our heritage.”

Also Tuesday, two Shinnecock members created a Facebook page to announce the formation of the New York Coalition for Shinnecock Gaming, which is calling for a boycott of Connecticut casinos they say are seeking to block the Southampton tribe’s federally recognized status.

Tela Loretta Troge, who is attending American Indian Law Center’s Pre Law Summer Institute, said she created the page with another tribal member, Kelly Dennis, out of “frustration” at “not being able to get Bureau of Indian Affairs scholarships for school next month” because of the Connecticut group’s filing.

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