Chumash Tribe battles land-into-trust opponents for 10+ years

Thursday, July 12, 2012  

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians in California appears to be near the end of a long-running battle over a land-into-trust application.

The tribe asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place 6.9 acres in trust in 2000. Five years later, the agency approved the request, only to be met by administrative challenges and a lawsuit.

After another look, the BIA once again approved the application. But the tribe faced more critics as opponents pressured Santa Barbara County to file an appeal.

"We’re here, have always been here. We will not be ignored,” Chairman Vincent Armenta told the county board of supervisors, The Solvang Valley News reported.

After a lengthy public hearing, the board voted 3-2 not to appeal the decision. But opponents could file challenges before the tribe is allowed to build a museum and cultural center on the land.

Get the Story:
Board votes to not appeal decision (The Solvang Valley News 7/12)
Chumash Land Decision Stands (The Santa Barbara Independent 7/12)

Related Stories:
County won't dispute Chumash Tribe land-into-trust application (7/11)
Editorial: Challenge Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust application (7/10)
BIA cites Carcieri in backing Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (6/27)
Chumash Tribe critics hail Supreme Court's land-into-trust ruling (6/21)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash land-into-trust boosts community (6/7)
Richard Gomez: Chumash Tribe shares $16M with local charities (5/24)
Rep. Young won't introduce Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bill (5/21)
Opinion: Chumash report ignores land-into-trust issues (04/20)
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Opinion: Putting an end to land-into-trust for wealthy tribes (03/29)
Richard Gomez: Chumash Tribe needs more land for housing (3/1)
Opinion: Land-into-trust wasn't intended for 'wealthy' tribes (1/19)
Opinion: A lack of leadership over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust (1/5)