Schaghticoke Tribal Nation

The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation is a state-recognized tribe in Connecticut. STN is a distinct entity from the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe, another state-recognized tribe.

History

The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation has sought federal recognition since 1981. In 1986, a splinter group split off from STN and is known as the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe. Both STN and SIT are state-recognized in Connecticut, but not federally recognized. STN was granted federal recognition in 2004. However, federal recognition was revoked in 2005. STN has pursued restoration of their federal recognition. In 2015, STN was informed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs that they could not re-petition for federal recognition.

Housatonic River pollution

The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation state reservation is located along the Housatonic River, which is polluted with PCBs manufactured by Monsanto and put into the river by General Electric from their electrical transformer factory in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. This limits the use of the river and presents health risks to those who live along river, and local residents cannot eat the fish from the river.