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The Mashantucket Pequots are a small Native American tribe in Connecticut . They operate Foxwoods Resort Casino , the worlds largest casino resort. The Mashantucket Pequots are descendants of the Pequot s, most of whom were killed in the Pequot War in 1637 . This group is the Western Mashantucket Pequot and they have a Reservation within the borders of Ledyard, Connecticut . In 1983 the Tribal Nation gained Federal recognition as an Indian tribe through Congressional approval. in 1990 their population was 320. By contrast, the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation lost its federal recognition in 2005 following a challenge by the State of Connecticut, leaving the Mashantucket Pequots as the only federally recognised Pequot tribal government. In 1990 the tribal membership was assessed at 320; by 2005 it had grown to 785. Historically, their reservation was created by the Colony of Connecticut in 1666 . Over time it had been reduced to less than an acre (4,000 m²), and population went as low as 20 or 30. After a successful lawsuit over misappropriated reservation lands they began to expand the reservation by purchases, having them placed into Trust by the Bureau Of Indian Affairs . However, "Without Reservation" by Jeff Benedict asserts that the Mashantucket Pequot tribe discontinued its meetings, ceasing to be a true native American tribe. This assertion would call into question the tribe's right to operate a casino. Their successful and enormous casino, which is central to New York City , Boston , and Providence , was opened in 1992 and since then they have used the revenue to continue expanding their reservation to about 1,800 acres (7 km²). Near the casino, the Pequots maintain a museum charting their history and culture through good times and bad. The museum acts as an education center frequented by school children and adults. Visitors come from all over the globe. As a tribute to the diversity that makes up Indian Country, the museum hosts local and international indigenous artists, artifacts and musicians throughout the year. The Connecticut Center For Economic Analysis , a research center at the University Of Connecticut , performed an analysis of the casino's impact on the Connecticut economy. Their report stated that the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation and its Foxwoods casino have had a positive economic impact. {Link without Title} See also Further reading
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