Executive Summary s12

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation (EPTN) is a Connecticut state recognized Native American tribe consisting of 1,208 members. The 225- acre reservation of the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation, was established in 1683 by the colonial government. It.is one of the oldest Native American reservations in the country continuously occupied and controlled by the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation. The EPTN reservation is located in North Stonington, Connecticut.

The EPTN is governed by its constitution and Tribal Council. A major long term goal of the tribe is to gain federal acknowledgement to assist tribal members in attaining self-sufficiency. After 22 years working with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), the BIA granted the EPTN a preliminary positive decision in 2000 and final positive decision in 2002. In an unprecedented appeal, the Interior Board of Indian Appeals in 2005 reversed the decision. In 2016 the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation filed a petition to BIA”s Office of Federal Acknowledgment “requesting a review of its Previous Federal Acknowledgment pursuant to the newly enacted Regulation 25 CFR section 83.12.” That petition is pending in the US Department of Interior, Office of Hearing and Appeals.

The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation’s mission is to protect our sovereignty, conserve and develop our tribal resources, and promote the self-sufficiency of our people and our descendants. The tribe continues to strive to meet these goals for a better life for the people.

The Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation has completed: (1) a 6 year Environmental Regulatory Enhancement Program supported by the US Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Native Americans to locate and preserve natural and cultural resources on the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation reservation. The tribe documented all wetlands, waterways, wildlife, soils/geology, topography, vegetation, boulder slopes and some historical and cultural sites (2) a 12 year collaborative Historic Preservation Program supported by the University of Massachusetts, Boston to locate and preserve historical artifacts and cultural sites on the reservation. The tribe and university located artifacts from thousands of years ago and studied and mapped some historical and cultural sites.

391 Norwich Westerly Road - P.O. Box 208 North Stonington, Connecticut 06359 Phone: 1-860-535-1868 Fax: 1 860 535-2005 www.easternpequottribalnation.com [email protected]

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

In 2015 the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation decided to proceed with a self- development project, the Wintachoag Village Development Project, “to promote tribal and community development on the reservation using our natural and human resources. The project is a 5 year development plan that includes land use planning, long term forestry management, foundation for: roads and trails, clean water, sewage, power and evaluation of our resources. This infrastructure development is necessary for development of tribal operations and community and housing facilities. During Phase I of the Development Project the Tribe worked with Hull Forest Products to complete a selective timber harvest to improve the health, safety, and sustainability of the forest. At the request of the Wampanoag Tribe of Gay Head in Aquinnah, MA, the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation harvested a large Tulip Poplar tree and gifted it to them to create a traditional ocean-going dugout canoe. We look forward to preserving this historical tradition on our reservation in the future.

With all endeavors the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation gives gratitude to the Great Spirit, “Taubotnee Manitoo” for all things and is working for a good life for the seven generations yet unborn. For more information about the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation please see our website: easternpequottribalnation.com.

Katherine Sebastian Dring, Chairwoman Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation

391 Norwich Westerly Road - P.O. Box 208 North Stonington, CT 06359 Phone: 1-860-535-1868 Fax: 1 860 535-2005 www.easternpequottribalnation.com [email protected]