The Schaghticoke are Eastern Woodlands people who historically consisted of Mahican, Potatuck, Weantinock, Tunxis, and Podunk people, indigenous to what is now New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.
After multiple losses and the sale of some Schaghticoke into slavery in the 1600s, the remnant tribes came together near the Connecticut and New York border.
A reservation was set aside for them by the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut in 1736, and about five hundred Schaghticoke moved onto it in 1740.
However, after the sale of reservation land by state agents, less than a fifth of the reservation remains. The 400-acre reservation is near the New York border, west of the Housatonic River.
In 1986, the tribe split, with one group maintaining the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe name, while the other identifies as the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation. A third group, Schaghticoke First Nations, emerged in 2019 after acquiring 73 acres of land in Columbia County.
In 2004, the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation was the fourth tribe in Connecticut to gain federal recognition. However, after strong opposition from the state, local governments, landowners, and the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe, the Bureau of Indian Affairs reversed its decision, revoking federal recognition in 2005.
In 1981, the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe filed for federal recognition. In its filings, the tribal genealogist had documented that four family lineages (Cogswell, Kilson, Harris, and Bradley) form the basis of most of today's tribal members, and several individual leaders, elected and from within the community, disputed the leadership of the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation, a dispute that has yet to be resolved.
In 2002, the Bureau of Indian Affairs made a preliminary finding that the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation failed to satisfy two of the seven criteria for recognition: proof of cohesive community and maintenance of continuous political leadership. After receiving additional documentation, the BIA acknowledged the Schaghticoke Tribal Nation as an Indian Tribe, but this was revoked in 2005. The revocation was appealed, but a federal judge upheld the revocation, and further appeals were denied. In 2015, the BIA issued new rules stating that tribes that have been previously denied cannot re-petition.
In 2022, the Schaghticoke Indian Tribe applied for federal recognition. At this time, the Schaghticoke First Nations is registered as a non-profit organization but has not yet applied for federal recognition.
The focus of this portion of our guide is on the Schaghticoke people, its tribes, recognized or unrecognized, and any businesses, industries, schools, medical facilities, places of worship, organizations, or other entities operated by Schaghticoke organizations or individuals.
Recommended Resources
One of the remaining Schaghticoke tribes of the Eastern Woodlands, the Schaghticoke First Nations is the only indigenous institution of Schaghticoke descendants based in the New York Hudson and Harlem Valley regions. Registered as a non-profit organization, the SFN claims to be a treaty tribe under the protection of the Treaty of 1676 Witenagemot Vale of Peace, ratified by the governors of New York, New England, and New France. Its history, tribal council, priorities, and partnerships.
https://www.schaghticoke.info/
The Schaghticoke Indian Tribe is an Eastern Woodlands tribe consisting of descendants of the Potatuck, Weantinock, and other people indigenous to what is now Connecticut, New York, and Massachusetts. The tribe controls 400 acres of land starting at the banks of the Housatonic River and running west into New York State. Its site features a historical timeline, a gallery of photographs, an email address, a telephone number, an online contact form, and a map showing the location of its offices.
https://www.schaghticokeindiantribe.org/
The Schaghticoke Tribal Nation is an Eastern Woodland tribe rooted on land in what is now Kent, Connecticut. The tribe's history, timelines, and a profile of its traditions and governmental structure are set forth, including its quest for federal recognition, its chief's testimonies and statements, resources, and a calendar of events. Other resources include a photo gallery, significant tribal members, and both scholarship and employment opportunities.
https://schaghticoke.com/
