Three public hearing have been scheduled to discuss five tribal land claim settlements.

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, the Cayuga Nation, the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans from Wisconsin, the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma have reached agreements with Gov. George Pataki (R). The deals call for the tribes to drop their land claims in exchange for gaming rights in the Catskills.

The deals have been criticized by the Oneida Nation of New York. The tribe's representative, Ray Halbritter, said they will bring financial benefits to friends of Pataki.

The agreements have also run into some opposition among certain counties.

Get the Story:
Land claim deals subject of hearings (The Syracuse Post-Standard 2/16)

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