Albany, NY – Today, the New York State Assembly unanimously passed A.10129, sponsored by Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, which would reinstate state recognition and acknowledgement of the Montaukett Indian Nation. This is the eighth time that the Assembly has passed this measure. The Governor of the State of New York has decided to reject reinstatement seven times, most recently in December 2025.

The people of the Montaukett Indian Nation are a rich part of the Long Island community. After several attempts to advance legislation which would recognize and acknowledge the Montauketts, New York State has continued with the precedent set in 1910 to deny them their right of existence in the eyes of the state.

Despite the 1910 Pharaoh v. Benson case, when the court declared them to be extinct while their leaders and 75 members of the nation sat in the courtroom, the Montaukett Indian Nation has continued to thrive and govern itself. The wrongful removal of their state recognition remains uncorrected, and the New York State Legislature has proven it is committed to addressing the deserving respect of the Montaukett people.

Assemblyman Schiavoni said: “The New York State Legislature is committed to reinstating recognition by this State to the Montaukett Indian Nation, and I am grateful to my colleagues for again unanimously voting to pass this measure in the People’s House. I am following through on my pledge to continue to prioritize the reinstatement of state recognition of the Montaukett Indian Nation, which was wrongfully stripped of its rights to exist more than a century ago. I will continue to engage with leadership of the Montaukett Indian Nation and with Governor Hochul’s office to correct this injustice on behalf of the Montaukett people.”