In 1910, a New York court stripped the Montaukett Nation of its tribal lands and declared the Nation to be extinct with its leaders sitting in the courtroom. It was genocide by legal fiat and has been criticized by subsequent state judges. In 2013, the State Legislature attempted to right that wrong by passing legislation to give the Montauketts a path to restore state recognition. The Governor vetoed it, stating he would do his own evaluation. Four years passed. Nothing happened. In 2017, using the same approach as was used in the 1970s to recognize the Poospatuck Nation on Long Island, the State Legislature passed legislation granting recognition to the Montauketts. The Governor again vetoed the bill, claiming he had not completed his evaluation. For those of us who live on Long Island, it is obvious that the Montaukett people, culture, and government are alive and well. This veto is no better than the court decision that made recognition legislation necessary in the first place.