Shinnecock Tribe Moves Close to U.S. Recognition - NYTimes.com

Shinnecock Tribe Moves Close to U.S. Recognition - NYTimes.com: "Shinnecock Tribe Moves Close to U.S. Recognition
By DANNY HAKIM
ALBANY — The Obama administration said Tuesday that the Shinnecock Indian Nation of Long Island had met the necessary criteria for federal recognition, signaling the end of a more than 30-year court battle and clearing a path for the tribe to build a casino in New York City or its suburbs.
The decision all but assures the tribe’s federal recognition, though there is still a required public comment period that will take place before final recognition is granted.
“The Shinnecock petitioner has met all seven mandatory criteria for federal acknowledgment,” the Interior Department said in a statement issued Tuesday afternoon."