Federal recognition.

In the context of Indian tribes, the term connotes acknowledgment, acceptance and, above all else, leaders of southeastern Connecticut’s tribes say, respect.

It’s of no small consequence, of course, that federal recognition also is essential to a tribe’s pursuit of casino development, which can reshape a tribe’s destiny. That’s been the experience of the Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan tribes, respective owners of Foxwoods Resort Casino and Mohegan Sun, two of North America’s largest resort casinos.

But the prospect of gaming riches wasn’t even in the picture when the Mashantuckets, the Mohegans and the Eastern Pequots ― who were recognized for a time in the early 2000s before a decision acknowledging them was rescinded ― began eyeing federal recognition in the 1970s.