New York governor criticizes Oneida decision

Trust

Friday, May 23, 2008

Recently installed Gov. David Paterson (D) criticized the Interior Department on Thursday for agreeing to acquire 13,000 acres in trust for the Oneida Nation.

Paterson said the acquisition will hurt local governments, who benefited from illegal sales of the tribe's original reservation. He urged negotiations but said they would be clouded by litigation over the decision.

"When it comes to matters concerning Native Americans, the Bush Administration has shown a pattern of acting in a manner that is detrimental to the interests of New York, its residents and even the tribes," Paterson said in the statement. "The procedures the Department of Interior – through the Bureau of Indian Affairs – followed were flawed and its decision is decidedly harmful to ongoing efforts on the part of the interested parties to resolve these matters locally."

The tribe has said it is willing to negotiate future land acquisitions, as well as put an end to its long-running land claim.

Get the Story:
Governor plans land claim talks (The Oneida Dispatch 5/23)

Relevant Documents:
Record of Decision | Final EIS (March 2008) | Draft EIS (November 2006)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (March 31, 2005)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (March 30, 2005)

Relevant Links:

Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/888.html
Oneida Indian Nation's Land Into Trust Application, Madison County - http://www.madisoncounty.org/motf/OINTrustMain.html

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]