Winter 2005

Federal Recognition Update

The federal Bureau of Indian Affairs found in December of 2004 that it made a mistake in evaluating the Schaghticoke Indian tribe's recognition application. The agency, which reversed a preliminary ruling and granted the tribe federal recognition last January, miscounted the number of Schaghticokes who married other Schaghticokes during the 19th century. The BIA said the error does not automatically mean the tribe's recognition should be rejected.

An appeals board within the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the Golden Hill Paugussetts' request to reconsider denial of federal recognition for the tribe last October. The board decided that it lacked jurisdiction and sent it to the Secretary of the Interior.