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The Union meeting took place in the wake of the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs' June 24 decision to recognize the Paucatuck Eastern Pequots and the Eastern Pequots as one tribe, clearing the way for a casino proposal.
The Woodstock meeting took place as the Golden Hill Paugussetts were pitching their proposal for an Indian casino in Bridgeport.
Author Jeff Benedict, who lost his bid for the right to oppose U.S. Rep. Robert R. Simmons, R-2nd District, this November to Vernon lawyer Joseph D. Courtney, dominated both meetings.
Benedict's book, "Without Reservation," challenges the legitimacy of the Mashantucket Pequots, the tribe that operates Foxwoods Resort Casino. Benedict has been highly critical of the tribal recognition process, as well as the flood of applications for tribal recognition.
Benedict favors repealing the laws that allow Indians to operate casinos and have a gaming monopoly.
Simmons did not attend either meeting, but sent staff members to champion his view.
When several Benedict supporters in Woodstock slammed Simmons for taking campaign contributions from the Indians, Simmons' district director Jane Dauphinais confirmed that he did take Indian money, but only as individual contributions totaling around $5,000.
After the meeting, as the crowd was leaving, Dauphinais said Simmons "would love to repeal Indian gaming," but can't because he would make too many enemies in Congress if he tried. "He would so harm his credibility," she said.
Benedict scoffed at that. "I'm more interested in my credibility with my constituents," he said.
Benedict said the Bureau of Indian Affairs' June 24 decision sets a precedent that might lead to two Nipmuc tribes in Massachusetts being recognized as one.
The Nipmucs of Sutton, Mass., were reported last summer to be eyeing a parcel on the Union/Sturbridge border for a casino, and had backing from Lakes Gaming Inc., a financial group from Minnesota. The Nipmucs were denied recognition last September, but are in the extension period for their appeal.
Reached by phone last week, Sutton Nipmuc Patricia Garwood, executive assistant to the council, said, "The Nipmucs' official position on the matter is, 'No comment.' We don't have a position. You have to have recognition before you can have anything at all."
Garwood said she has some very strong personal views that are not necessarily those of the tribe.
"I wish people would stop," she said of the anti-casino meetings. "Every time you say you're an Indian, they think you want to build a casino. I've been an Indian all my life. I get very upset with people who think that Native Americans just want to take your money."
Courtney attended the meeting in Union, but not the one in Woodstock. People booed when someone asked where he was.
Ledyard Mayor Wesley J. Johnson Sr. told the Woodstock crowd about the hardships of living in proximity to Foxwoods.
Rep. Jefferson Davis, D-Pomfret, and North Stonington First Selectman Nicholas H. Mullane II are among those invited to tonight's meeting.
Frassinelli said a new casino on the Union-Sturbridge line would increase traffic on Route 190, and attract casino employees who would move into town and soak up services.
"I think we have enough gambling in the state," he said. "At this point, the costs are not worth the benefit."
