Media Contact: Nedra Darling, OPA-IA Phone: 202-208-3710
For Immediate Release: July 23, 2000

"On June 23, the parties to the case, Schaghticoke Tribal Nation vs. Bruce Babbit, Secretary of the United States Department of lnterior, and Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, United States Department of lnterior, filed a joint stipulation in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia."

"The stipulation states the Department of Interior will decide by August 8, 2000, on the Schaghticoke tribe's request for concurrent consideration of its petition with the petition of the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe."

"The Department will not render any proposed finding, or any other proposed or final determination, on the petition for federal recognition filed by the Golden Hill Paugussett Tribe until October 2, 2000."