More than 1,000 people packed a public hearing into the Cayuga Nation's land-into-trust application on Wednesday night.

Only one person spoke in favor of the tribe's request to have 125 acres placed in trust. That was Clint Halftown, the tribe's federally recognized representative.

“This treaty remains valid, and our reservation continues to exist to this day,” Halftown said of the 1794 Treaty of Canandaigua, The Auburn Citizen reported.

The remainder of the 70-plus people who spoke at the hearing opposed the application. They are concerned about tax issues and gaming.

The one person who didn't express an opinion was booed by the crowd, the Citizen reported. That was a staffer for Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-New York).

The Bureau of Indian Affairs is taking written comments on the draft environmental impact statement until July 6.

Get the Story:
Last hearing on possible federal trust for Cayugas' land draws huge crowd (The Syracuse Post-Standard 6/18)
BIA public hearing gets heated (The Auburn Citizen 6/18)
Over 1,000 show up at Indian land trust hearing (WSYR 6/17)
Hundreds fight for Cayuga Nation land trust (News 10 Now 6/17)

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BIA holds meeting on Cayuga Nation land-into-trust (6/17)