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A small Native American tribe that lives on Long Island was officially recognized as a tribe by the federal government, according to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The Shinnecock Indian Nation, which has 1,292 members, lives on approximately 800 acres and will be placed on the government's official list of tribes by July 20.
The bureau said that the tribe “meets all seven criteria as an Indian tribe within the meaning of federal law.” The tribe has sought to be recognized by the federal government for the past 32 years. According to the tribe's website, it had previously been recognized on a state level but not federally.