Bill would reverse Montaukett Indians' status

The Montaukett Indian Nation moved one step closer to state recognition after Sen. Kenneth LaValle introduced a bill that would begin a review of the 1,200-member tribe's case and help reverse a 101-year-old court ruling that declared them "disintegrated."

The bill, introduced last week, mirrors one first introduced by Assemb. Fred Thiele (I-Sag Harbor) in 2006. It establishes "a procedure to evaluate" the tribe's case for acknowledgment "as an Indian tribe by the state of New York." Thiele's bill has also been reintroduced.

"The Montaukett people have a very high purpose," said LaValle (R-Port Jefferson). "We have gotten a lot of support from people who have read of their story . . . We'll try to move this as quickly as possible."

For the tribe, the move is a crucial step toward undoing a devastating 1910 state court opinion that declared the tribe "disintegrated," to upholding the disputed transferral of thousands of acres of tribal lands extending for miles west from Montauk Point. The Montauketts, and historians, have consistently rejected the legality of those transfers.

"For the last 100 years the Montaukett people have hoped and dreamed of the day when our rights as a New York indigenous nation could be restored," said Montaukett sachem Robert Pharaoh, whose family has led the tribe for centuries. "Today, I feel confident that due to the courage, honor and vision of Senator LaValle and Assemblyman Thiele, we have overcome perhaps the biggest hurdle in our quest to restore our people as an integral part of New York State history."

As part of the recognition process, the Montauketts seek a parcel of land on their former territory at Montauk Point in what is now an unused military base at Camp Hero.

LaValle has said he would support the tribe's use of the land because the Montauketts want to create a cultural and educational center, and have disavowed any interest in casino gambling.

While LaValle has pledged his support to push the bill, there's no guarantee it will be accepted by the full State Legislature or Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, whose spokesman wasn't available for comment Monday. Thiele also wasn't available.

With Yancey Roy