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APRIL 26, 2000

Land claims suits in New York state seem to bring out the worst in the region's many residents. The Syracuse Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends hopes to prevent that by hosting open forums on land claims.  
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S PROMISE
The land claim of the Onondaga Nation, the Firekeeper for the Six Iroquois Nations, involves a 100 square mile area which includes the City of Syracuse. The tribe will argue that the land was illegally transferred to the state in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The Trade and Intercourse Act of 1790 prohibits the transfer of Indian owned land without federal approval.

A 1790 letter from George Washington to leaders of the Seneca Nation, one of the Six Nations, confirmed the same federal promise. "No Sate nor person can purchase your lands, unless under the authority of the United States. The general government will never consent to your being defrauded," wrote Washington.

ANTI-INDIAN BIAS
Anti-Indian sentiments over land claims are high, particularly in Oneida and Madison counties, where local landowners have been named in the Oneida Nation suit. A visit to user forums on Syracuse Online, a news and community website for the region, reveals an intense dislike for the Oneida Nation.

Everyone and everything from Nation representative Ray Halbritter to the Turning Stone Casino to the Oneida's police force are a target. The recent rescindment of county deputization for Oneida's police was seen within the tribe as backlash.

ENTER THE QUAKERS
The Quaker group will host a series of forums in an effort to prevent similar reactions. The forums begin today in Syracuse, featuring Christopher Vecsey, a philosophy and religion professor at Colgate University, and Stephen Webb, a history professor at Syracuse University.

Future forums will include Native Americans and landowners. Onondaga officials will attend but will not participate as speakers.

Historically, Quakers have been involved with the Six Nations. Quakers from Philadelphia aided in the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua negotiations, which ended hostilities in the region.

Staff and news wires contributed to this report.

Relevant Links:
The Canandaigua Treaty of 1794
Land Claims Forum at Syracuse Online.

Related Stories:
Oneida Nation v New York State (Tribal Law 4/26)
Counties end police agreement with Oneida (Tribal Law 04/18)
Oneida foes talk in DC (Tribal Law 04/13)
Oneida Nation v New York State (Tribal Law 04/05)