Law
Court rules against Seneca Nation's land claims


The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday rejected the Seneca Nation's land claims involving Grand Island.

The tribe claimed the state took the land without federal approval. At issue was the sale of Grand Island in 1815 and an easement for a state highway in 1954.

In a unanimous decision, the court said the state had already obtained title to the land in question. Yet the state still paid the tribe for the land, the court said.

Get the Story:
Federal court upholds state in two Seneca land claims (AP 9/10)

Get the Decision:
SENECA NATION OF INDIANS v. STATE OF NEW YORK (September 9, 2004)

Relevant Links:
Seneca Nation - http://www.sni.org