# Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-59a: Sec. 47-59a. Connecticut Indians; citizenship, civil rights, land rights

> Connecticut · Statutes · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-59a

## Section

- **Citation:** Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-59a
- **Heading:** Sec. 47-59a. Connecticut Indians; citizenship, civil rights, land rights
- **Jurisdiction:** Connecticut
- **Kind:** Statutes
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** Connecticut Code / Title 47 / Chapter 824 / Section 47-59a

## Text

(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.

Cited. 176 C. 318; 180 C. 474; 217 C. 612; 231 C. 563; 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; 22 CA 229; judgment reversed, see 217 C. 612. “Rights and privileges” include access to state's courts, and tribe's initiation of summary process action in state court constitutes consent to the court's jurisdiction. 138 CA 204.

Subsec. (a):

“Rights and privileges” must include access to the state's courts; court properly exercised subject matter jurisdiction to adjudicate summary process action involving eviction from reservation land where plaintiffs, by initiating action, consented to court's jurisdiction and the court's exercise of jurisdiction did not interfere with the Schaghticoke Indians' right to self-governance or infringe on any tribal laws or adjudicative authority of the Schaghticoke Indians. 138 CA 204.

## Nearby sections

- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-59a Sec. 47-59a. Connecticut Indians; citizenship, civil rights, land rights.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-59a.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-59b Sec. 47-59b. Indian Affairs Council; composition, duties, executive director, regulations, report.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-59b.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-60 Sec. 47-60. Reservation land held in trust by state. Conveyances by Indians void.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-60.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-61 Sec. 47-61. No title by possession against an Indian.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-61.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-61a Sec. 47-61a. Records of traditional cultural knowledge submitted to public agency for cultural affiliation determination exempt from disclosure.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-61a.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-63 Sec. 47-63. Definitions.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-63.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-64 Sec. 47-64. Use of reservations. Restriction of leases. Escheats.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-64.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-65 Sec. 47-65. Management of reservations and residents thereon. Adoption of regulations. Governor designated administrative agent.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-65.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-65b Sec. 47-65b. State assumption of criminal and civil jurisdiction on reservation of the Mohegan Tribe of Indians.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-65b.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-65c Sec. 47-65c. Memoranda of agreement establishing authority of Indian tribal police departments and officers.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-65c.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-66 Sec. 47-66. Tribal funds.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-66.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-66g Sec. 47-66g. Management of Indian affairs.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-66g.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-66h Sec. 47-66h. Trust agreements between Governor and willing indigenous tribes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-66h.md)
- [Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47-66i Sec. 47-66i. Method of selecting tribal leaders. Disputes.](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-66i.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_CT_T47_C824_S47-59a. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.