CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) – New Jersey has moved to dismiss a lawsuit by a Native American tribe that claims the state gave it official recognition but then rescinded it.

The Cumberland County-based Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribal Nation sued in federal court in July.

The suit claims that the state Legislature passed a resolution recognizing the tribe in the 1980s but that a state staffer emailed the federal government’s General Accounting Office several years ago saying New Jersey had no recognized tribes.

The tribe says not having state recognition affects its ability to sell arts and crafts, costing it hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

In a court filing this week, the state argues that the Legislature’s action didn’t amount to official recognition because Congress has the sole authority to recognize tribes.