Schaghticoke (tribe)
Encyclopedia
The Schaghticoke are a Native American
tribe of the Eastern Woodlands consisting of descendants of Mahican
(also called "Mohican", but not to be confused with the Mohegan
s), Potatuck
(or Pootatuck), Weantinock
, Tunxis
, Podunk
, and other people indigenous to what is now Connecticut
, New York
, and Massachusetts
. They amalgamated after encroachment of white settlers on their ancestral lands. Their 400 acre (1.6 km²) reservation
http://mappoint.msn.com/(w30vwq55zxhhfi5511nnhq55)/map.aspx?L=USA&C=41.67584%2c-73.51445&A=7.16667&P=|41.67584%2c-73.51445|1|Schaghticoke+Rd%2c+Kent%2c+CT+06757|L1|, depleted from its original 2500 acres (10.1 km²), is located on the New York/Connecticut border within the boundaries of Kent
in Litchfield County
, Connecticut, running parallel to the Housatonic River
. It is one of the oldest reservations in North America. The land was granted in 1736 as a reserve to the Schaghticoke by the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, 40 years before the American Revolution
. Today the reservation land, a wilderness habitat for rattlesnakes, ruffed grouse
, and other animals, is held in trust by the state.
Schaghticoke has various spellings (Pachgatgoch, Patchgatgoch, Pisgachtigok, Pishgachtigok, Scachtacook, Scaghkooke, Scanticook, Scatacook, Scaticook, Schaacticook, Scotticook, Seachcook) derived from an Algonquian Dialect-R word Pishgachtigok meaning "Where the river forks." The language/culture base is Algonquian
with Iroquoian
influence.
In 1981 the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (S.I.T.) filed a petition for federal recognition.
Four family lineages form the basis of most of today's tribal members, according to tribal genealogists. They are the Cogswells, Kilsons, Harrises, and Bradleys.
In January 2004, after reviewing nearly 30,000 documents, the Bureau of Indian Affairs
granted federal recognition to the tribe. In making its initial positive declaration, the BIA agreed that the tribe met all seven criteria for recognition. In October 2005, however, after pressure from concerned non-Indian townspeople, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm, and the state of Connecticut and its Congressional delegation, the BIA reversed its decision. The Schaghticokes sued for relief in Federal court, but the suit was dismissed in August 2008; the appeal was denied. On January 29, 2009, Schaghticoke members and supporters rallied at the Connecticut state capitol, and presented a petition to Governor Jodi Rell
, calling for an end to land encroachment and destruction and raised awareness for the tribe's continued effort for federal recognition. Chief Velky, tribal chair since 1987, has promised, “I can tell you this. They will never finish us off, and they will never take our land.”
Infighting has divided the tribe into two factions. In 1986, the tribe split and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Kent, Connecticut (STNKC) was formed with the support of the state of Connecticut government. Using the identity of SIT, through formation of a nonprofit corporation, in 1991 STNKC filed a new petition for federal recognition that was granted in 2004. However, STNKC members did not live on the reservation and STNKC claims were rejected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs because it did not meet certain community and political authority sections of federal recognition law. The BIA's decision determined that the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT) is the legitimate present-day continuation of the historical Schaghticoke Tribe (page 63 of the 2005 Final Determination IBA). SIT claims will be considered by the federal government when its petitions are complete and reviewed under the acknowledgment regulations.
In August 2009 STNKC once again was ruled against by Judge Peter Dorsey. This ruling was appealed in the 2nd circuit court of NY and was denied (Oct 19, 2009)
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
tribe of the Eastern Woodlands consisting of descendants of Mahican
Mahican
The Mahican are an Eastern Algonquian Native American tribe, originally settling in the Hudson River Valley . After 1680, many moved to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. During the early 1820s and 1830s, most of the Mahican descendants migrated westward to northeastern Wisconsin...
(also called "Mohican", but not to be confused with the Mohegan
Mohegan
The Mohegan tribe is an Algonquian-speaking tribe that lives in the eastern upper Thames River valley of Connecticut. Mohegan translates to "People of the Wolf". At the time of European contact, the Mohegan and Pequot were one people, historically living in the lower Connecticut region...
s), Potatuck
Potatuck
The Potatuck were a Native American tribe that existed during and prior to colonial times in western Connecticut, USA. They were a sub-group of the Paugussett Nation and lived in what is present day Newtown, Woodbury and Southbury...
(or Pootatuck), Weantinock
Weantinock
The Weantinock were a Native American tribe that existed during and prior to colonial times in western Connecticut, USA. They were a sub-group of the Paugussett Nation and lived in what is present day New Milford...
, Tunxis
Tunxis
The Tunxis were a Native American tribe historically linked to the Wappinger that lived by a sizeable bend on the Farmington River near where Farmington and Southington in Hartford County, Connecticut exist today. The name Tunxis comes from the Wuttunkshau-sepus word meaning "the point where the...
, Podunk
Podunk (people)
The Podunks were an indigenous people living in some of the southern parts of what came to be known as New England. The Europeans referred to these people as the Podunk, but they did not have a name for themselves, or a written language, and they spoke an Algonquian dialect...
, and other people indigenous to what is now Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. They amalgamated after encroachment of white settlers on their ancestral lands. Their 400 acre (1.6 km²) reservation
Indian reservation
An American Indian reservation is an area of land managed by a Native American tribe under the United States Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs...
http://mappoint.msn.com/(w30vwq55zxhhfi5511nnhq55)/map.aspx?L=USA&C=41.67584%2c-73.51445&A=7.16667&P=|41.67584%2c-73.51445|1|Schaghticoke+Rd%2c+Kent%2c+CT+06757|L1|, depleted from its original 2500 acres (10.1 km²), is located on the New York/Connecticut border within the boundaries of Kent
Kent, Connecticut
Kent is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, alongside the border with New York. The population was 2,858 at the 2000 census. The town is home to three New England boarding schools: South Kent School, Kent School and The Marvelwood School. The Schaghticoke Indian Reservation is also located...
in Litchfield County
Litchfield County, Connecticut
Litchfield County is a county located in the northwestern corner of the U.S. state of Connecticut. Litchfield County has the lowest population density of any county in Connecticut but is geographically the state's largest county. As of 2010 the population was 189,927...
, Connecticut, running parallel to the Housatonic River
Housatonic River
The Housatonic River is a river, approximately long, in western Massachusetts and western Connecticut in the United States. It flows south to southeast, and drains about of southwestern New England into Long Island Sound...
. It is one of the oldest reservations in North America. The land was granted in 1736 as a reserve to the Schaghticoke by the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, 40 years before the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. Today the reservation land, a wilderness habitat for rattlesnakes, ruffed grouse
Grouse
Grouse are a group of birds from the order Galliformes. They are sometimes considered a family Tetraonidae, though the American Ornithologists' Union and many others include grouse as a subfamily Tetraoninae in the family Phasianidae...
, and other animals, is held in trust by the state.
Schaghticoke has various spellings (Pachgatgoch, Patchgatgoch, Pisgachtigok, Pishgachtigok, Scachtacook, Scaghkooke, Scanticook, Scatacook, Scaticook, Schaacticook, Scotticook, Seachcook) derived from an Algonquian Dialect-R word Pishgachtigok meaning "Where the river forks." The language/culture base is Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
with Iroquoian
Iroquois
The Iroquois , also known as the Haudenosaunee or the "People of the Longhouse", are an association of several tribes of indigenous people of North America...
influence.
In 1981 the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (S.I.T.) filed a petition for federal recognition.
Four family lineages form the basis of most of today's tribal members, according to tribal genealogists. They are the Cogswells, Kilsons, Harrises, and Bradleys.
In January 2004, after reviewing nearly 30,000 documents, the Bureau of Indian Affairs
Bureau of Indian Affairs
The Bureau of Indian Affairs is an agency of the federal government of the United States within the US Department of the Interior. It is responsible for the administration and management of of land held in trust by the United States for Native Americans in the United States, Native American...
granted federal recognition to the tribe. In making its initial positive declaration, the BIA agreed that the tribe met all seven criteria for recognition. In October 2005, however, after pressure from concerned non-Indian townspeople, a Washington, D.C. lobbying firm, and the state of Connecticut and its Congressional delegation, the BIA reversed its decision. The Schaghticokes sued for relief in Federal court, but the suit was dismissed in August 2008; the appeal was denied. On January 29, 2009, Schaghticoke members and supporters rallied at the Connecticut state capitol, and presented a petition to Governor Jodi Rell
Jodi Rell
Mary Jodi Rell is a Republican politician and was the 87th Governor of the U.S. state of Connecticut from 2004 until 2011. She was the Lieutenant Governor of Connecticut under Governor John G. Rowland, who resigned during a corruption investigation. Rell is Connecticut's second female Governor,...
, calling for an end to land encroachment and destruction and raised awareness for the tribe's continued effort for federal recognition. Chief Velky, tribal chair since 1987, has promised, “I can tell you this. They will never finish us off, and they will never take our land.”
Infighting has divided the tribe into two factions. In 1986, the tribe split and the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation of Kent, Connecticut (STNKC) was formed with the support of the state of Connecticut government. Using the identity of SIT, through formation of a nonprofit corporation, in 1991 STNKC filed a new petition for federal recognition that was granted in 2004. However, STNKC members did not live on the reservation and STNKC claims were rejected by the Bureau of Indian Affairs because it did not meet certain community and political authority sections of federal recognition law. The BIA's decision determined that the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe (SIT) is the legitimate present-day continuation of the historical Schaghticoke Tribe (page 63 of the 2005 Final Determination IBA). SIT claims will be considered by the federal government when its petitions are complete and reviewed under the acknowledgment regulations.
In August 2009 STNKC once again was ruled against by Judge Peter Dorsey. This ruling was appealed in the 2nd circuit court of NY and was denied (Oct 19, 2009)