ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: The U.S. Interior Department’s Bureau of Indian Affairs has again told the West Seattle-headquartered Duwamish Tribe that it does not qualify for federal recognition. The decision (first reported locally by KUOW) was announced in this BIA news release and spelled out in this 95-page document that accompanied a letter to Duwamish chair Cecile Hansen. This means that the tribe has now been denied recognition under 1978 and 1994 rules; while Interior declares its decision final, it coincidentally has just announced another change in the recognition rules. Today’s decision traces back to a federal judge’s ruling in 2013, telling Interior to re-review the Duwamish Tribe’s petition. We contacted the tribe for comment and were told they’re waiting to review the decision before commenting; a media briefing is expected next week. (WSB file photo of Duwamish Tribe chair Cecile Hansen, from April 2015 Duwamish Alive! event)

ADDED FRIDAY: We did hear back from Cecile Hansen via e-mail today. Her reaction: “It is a major shock, but after 40 years of proving our case, and why, when I was attacked for trying to defend all Duwamish people in this country, we will prevail after all – does the city of Seattle remember that our tribe welcomed the settlers before treaty times. It is our history and no one in DC can change that part!”