Dec
15
2009
The New York Times reports that the Shinnecock Indian Nation of Long Island has met the criteria for federal recognition, according to the Interior Department. The seven mandatory criteria for federal recognition are detailed in 25 C.F.R. § 83.7. Briefly, they are:- the group has been identified as an American Indian group on a "substantially continuous basis since 1900"
- a predominant portion of the group comprises a "distinct community" and has existed as such from historical times to the present
- the group has maintained autonomous "political influence or authority" over its members
- the group has membership criteria and governing processes in place
- the group's members are descended from an Indian tribe
