The Snohomish Indian Tribe — a group whose families did not move to the Tulalip Reservation — was turned down Monday in its bid for federal recognition.
Such recognition would have given the 1,711-member tribe such benefits as sovereignty, the ability to put land in trust and build a casino and access to some federal grants.
The group, which has been working for federal recognition for 30 years, also was turned down in 1983.
A 60-page fax from the U.S. Department of the Interior sealed the tribe’s fate.
"It was a terrible blow," said Bill Matheson of Port Hadlock, chairman of the Snohomish Tribe.
"I just don’t understand it. I don’t know what’s going on back there (in Washington, D.C.). I don’t know if it’s anti-Indian, or it’s political, or funding, or what it is."
The tribe has 90 days to file an appeal with the Interior Board of Indian Appeals.
The Snohomish Tribe of Indians, which has an office in Edmonds, is made up of about 34 families who were part of the Snohomish nation before the signing of the Treaty of Point Elliott in 1855.
That treaty established the Tulalip Indian Reservation, made up of 11 tribes, near what is now Marysville. The Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 combined the 11 tribes, including the Snohomish, and they were confederated as the Tulalip Tribes.
Off-reservation Snohomish Indians did not get to vote on the 1934 act and believe that those who voted in favor gave up their tribal identity.
The Tulalip Tribes adamantly opposed the Snohomish tribe’s federal recognition, hiring attorneys and genealogy researchers to prepare volumes of testimony to block the recognition.
While some believe the Tulalip Tribes are motivated by greed, spokesman John McCoy said it’s a matter of principle and keeping continuity of the tribes on the reservation.
McCoy, who is also the general manager of Quil Ceda Village and a state representative, said Monday that he wasn’t surprised by the decision.
"Based on the criteria set forth in the Federal Acknowledgement Program, that was the appropriate decision," McCoy said, noting that he didn’t want to say anything else. "There’s enough bad feelings about saying any more."
To gain federal recognition, a tribe must meet seven criteria set by the federal government. The Snohomish tribe was rejected based on the same four criteria noted in 1983.
Those included: the identification of the petitioner as American Indian from historical times; demonstration of a community from historical times; demonstration of political influence; and a list of tribal members.
Matheson said the fight is not over. He said the tribe has attorneys reviewing the letter of denial. He said it could be two years, but that a lawsuit "will appear in court one way or another."
Reporter Victor Balta: 425-339-3455 or vbalta@heraldnet.com.
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