Connecticut Attorney General's Office

Press Release

Attorney General Announces U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Schaghticoke Appeal

October 6, 2010

            Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal by the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation (STN) that sought to overturn the Bureau of Indian Affairs’ (BIA) refusal to grant the group federal tribal recognition.   

            “The Supreme Court has refused to hear and overturn the Schaghticoke case. This decision should mark the end of a meritless petition for tribal recognition.

“The BIA soundly rejected the Schaghticoke claim because the group has not existed as a continuous tribal political and social entity. Sovereign status is reserved only for groups that meet the clear federal criteria, which the Schaghticoke have failed to meet.”