Sec. 47-59a. Connecticut Indians; citizenship, civil rights, land rights. - Connecticut Statutes

      Sec. 47-59a. Connecticut Indians; citizenship, civil rights, land rights. (a) It is hereby declared the policy of the state of Connecticut to recognize that all resident Indians of qualified Connecticut tribes are considered to be full citizens of the state and they are hereby granted all the rights and privileges afforded by law, that all of Connecticut's citizens enjoy. It is further recognized that said Indians have certain special rights to tribal lands as may have been set forth by treaty or other agreements.

      (b) The state of Connecticut further recognizes that the indigenous tribes, the Schaghticoke, the Paucatuck Eastern Pequot, the Mashantucket Pequot, the Mohegan and the Golden Hill Paugussett are self-governing entities possessing powers and duties over tribal members and reservations. Such powers and duties include the power to: (1) Determine tribal membership and residency on reservation land; (2) determine the tribal form of government; (3) regulate trade and commerce on the reservation; (4) make contracts, and (5) determine tribal leadership in accordance with tribal practice and usage.

      (P.A. 73-660, S. 1, 11; P.A. 89-368, S. 16.)

      History: P.A. 89-368 added Subsec. (b) giving recognition of powers and duties of indigenous tribes over tribal members and reservations.

      Cited. 176 C. 318. Cited. 180 C. 474. Cited. 217 C. 612. P.A. 89-368 cited. Id. Cited. 231 C. 563. Cited. 243 C. 115. Although section recognizes the right of tribes to select their own leaders, it does not provide that leadership disputes may be settled through means that violate state criminal statutes. 263 C. 602.

      Cited. 18 CA 4. Cited. 22 CA 229; judgment reversed and case remanded to appellate court with direction to remand it to trial court for further proceedings, see 217 C. 612.