The Tribe had owned and used that land as a reservation for over one hundred years. In 1984, after nearly ten years of litigation and virtual warfare, the State of Connecticut determined that the Tribe was the owner of the one-quarter acre reservation. There is further extensive proof that the Tribe is a Tribe, which will be presented when it is necessary to do so. An Indian land claim is a lawsuit on behalf of or by a tribe of Native Americans for the return of lands unlawfully taken from the tribe. In the case of land claims made by northeastern tribes, most of the lands involved were unlawfully taken at least one hundred years ago, and, in many instances two hundred years ago or more.
Land claims are generally for the return of what are called aboriginal lands of the tribe.
The aboriginal territory of the tribe is that area which the tribe inhabited prior to the arrival of European settlers. These claims may be based on violations of United States laws, or of the laws which existed prior to the American Revolution. Indian land claims have frequently been upheld by the United States Supreme Court, as well as many lower courts. Prior to the arrival of European settlers, Native Americans lands did not have clearly defined borders, such as county or state lines. Therefore this area cannot be exactly defined.