NAACP Resolution Supporting Continued Sovereignty and Federal Recognition of the Schaghticoke and Eastern Pequot Tribal Nations

WHEREAS, Native Americans with African American ancestry have faced great difficulty in receiving federal recognition; and

WHEREAS, Native American tribes in general and the Schaghticoke and Eastern Pequot Tribal Nations specifically are under attack from outside political forces; and

WHEREAS, these two tribes were recognized by the State of Connecticut and granted federal recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs ("BIA") in 2002 and 2004 respectively; and

WHEREAS, as of May 17th after an intense lobbying effort by Connecticut politicians and anti-casino groups, the Interior Department's Board of Indian Appeals voted to void the BIA's previous decisions and remanded the decisions back to the agency for reconsideration; and

WHEREAS, the Interior Department on May 23, 2005 further refused to accept any new evidence from the tribes to bolster their petitions; and  

WHEREAS, the final review period and a decision on the two tribes' destiny is due within 120 days of the May 2005 date and could be precedent setting in nature; and

WHEREAS, on two previous occasions the NAACP voted to support the recognition of Native American tribes across the country in 1993 and 2003; and

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the NAACP will continue to support all legitimate claims for Native American federal recognition in general including the Schaghticokes and Eastern Pequot's Tribal Nations. The NAACP will vigorously oppose, through legislation, public rallies and court action, any and all attempts to discriminate against Native Americans in the federal recognition process; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the NAACP reaffirm its support of the federal recognition for Native Americans given at the 1993 and 2003 Conventions and urge the State of Connecticut to honor the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation's and the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation's sovereignty and federal recognition; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, that all NAACP units continue to work with Native American tribes as they seek federal recognition through administrative and legal processes.