Today's student-written guest blog post is by third-year law student Meg Morley.  Meg's research paper for Kathryn's Indian Gaming Law course is on the Shinnecock Indian Tribe and their quest for federal recognition and desire to open a casino.  As Meg has chosen a topic that is developing literally as she conducts her research (one of the challenges of working in the field of tribal gaming!), she is tracking news accounts daily.  Here's her latest update:

An appeal has been filed by the "Connecticut Coalition for Gaming Jobs".  This filing automatically stays the Federal Recognition process for the Shinnecocks, a process that was to be finalized on July 19.

Now another group has come forth with an appeal, the Montaukett Tribe.

www.newsday.com reports that on July 19, Robert Stevenson, a Cape May, NJ, resident who is one of three men who lay claim to the title of Montaukett chief, confirmed that his group filed its petition in the Shinnecock case. Officials at the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, whikch will review the claim have been informed of the filing but have not commented as of yet.

Mr. Stevenson's claim and appeal was anticipated and has been challenged by two other Montaukett leaders -- Robert Pharoah, who is Chief/Sachem of the Montaukett Nation, and Robert Cooper, who is chief of the Montaukett Tribe.  Both of these groups have also applied separately for Federal Recognition.

Mr. Cooper has alleged that Mr. Stevenson and his fellow petitioners are "not members of the Montaukett tribe" and that they were removed from the tribal rolls by a vote in 2005.

Meanwhile, Shinnecock supporters have come forth via Facebook and other avenues.

It has been very interesting to watch all of this play out!

Read more here