SWANTON, Vt. - The BIA has denied the St. Francis/Sokoki Band of the Missisquoi Abenaki Nation federal acknowledgement, ending the tribe's 27-year quest for recognition through the federal agency process.

In a press release June 22, the Interior Department said the Abenaki Band failed to meet four of the seven mandated criteria for federal status.

The tribe may appeal the decision or it may seek recognition through legislative action.

The BIA said the 1,171-member band could not prove its continuous existence as an American Indian ''entity'' on a continuous basis since 1900, or since historical times; could not prove it had maintained political authority over its members; and could not prove its members descend from a historical tribe.

''I wasn't surprised, but I am angry. I am angry and all American Native tribes should be angry, even the ones that are recognized,'' Chief April St. Francis Merrill said.

''We may appeal. Recognition would be wonderful because we'd be eligible for so much more as a people and especially for our children. But you know what? I'm not going to disappear and our people are not going to disappear because the federal government says we don't exist. I'm still who I am and our people are still who they are,'' St. Francis Merrill said.

The finding that the tribe lacked evidence of its existence since 1990 is ''particularly galling, considering Vermont's well-known 20th century eugenics program,'' St. Francis Merrill said. ''It's like being doubly victimized.

''Tribal members went underground to avoid being identified. So first, you've got to hide to survive; and then when you come out you're told you're not who you are. They were sterilizing our people and do you think the people are going to come forward and say they're Native Americans when they're sterilizing you?'' St. Francis Merrill asked.

''Tribal members went underground to avoid being identified. So first, you've got to hide to survive; and then when you come out you're told you're not who you are. They were sterilizing our people and do you think the people are going to come forward and say they're Native Americans when they're sterilizing you?