Chumash Tribe celebrates approval of land-into-trust application

Wednesday, February 1, 2017  

The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians is moving forward with plans for more housing after winning approval of a controversial land-into-trust application.

According to news reports, the Bureau of Indian Affairs agreed to place the 1,400-acre site in trust after a lengthy review process. An exact date wasn't given but it appears the decision was made before the end of the Obama administration.

"This is a historical moment for the tribe," Chairman Kenneth Kahn said in a statement, Noozhawk reported. "It's important that we are able to have homes within our tribal jurisdiction. It's important for the survival and future of the tribe. We are able to focus on our efforts to have tribal housing, on tribal land for tribal people in order to support our culture."

The tribe filed the application in 2010 but immediately saw local opposition. Attempts to work with Santa Barbara County to address taxation, jurisdiction and other issues moved slowly until members of Congress threatened to place the land in trust anyway.

H.R.1157, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians Land Transfer Act, never became law but it brought the county to the table. An agreement, however, still hasn't been reached.

The county has since reaffirmed its intent to fight the BIA's decision. It's not completely clear whether that will come in the form of a lawsuit or a challenge to the Interior Board of Indian Appeals, an avenue that has been used by opposition groups in the past.

Word of the approval came as the tribe celebrated the opening of the Avenue Heights Apartments. The 62-unit development include 12 low-income units.

Read More on the Story:
County supervisors file lawsuit challenging Chumash Camp 4 housing development (KEYT 1/31)
The Chumash Tribe celebrates Avenue Heights Apartments with ribbon cutting (KEYT 1/31)
Chumash expand reservation, county continues resistance (The Santa Maria Sun 1/25)
Bureau of Indian Affairs expands Santa Ynez Chumash's tribal lands (KCBX 1/24)
Chumash Win Federal Approval to Take Camp 4 Land Into Federal Trust (Noozhawk 1/23)
Chumash annex Camp 4 property into reservation (The Santa Ynez Valley News 1/23)
Chumash Complete Buellton Apartments (The Santa Barbara Independent 1/24)
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians completes construction on Buellton apartment complex (KEYT 1/15)

An Opinion:
Ron Fink: Is Opposition to Chumash Annexation Racism? (Noozhawk 1/31)

Editorial: County still in denial about Chumash Tribe's sovereignty (07/29)
House committee approves land-into-trust bill for Chumash Tribe (7/14)
House committee schedules markup for 3 Indian Country bills (7/11)
Chumash Tribe blasts lawmaker who opposes land-into-trust bill (05/12)
Chumash Tribe picks Kenneth Kahn as first new leader in years (4/29)
Santa Ynez Band Chair Vincent Armenta resigns after 17 years (03/17)
Opinion: Chumash Tribe won't compromise in land-into-trust talks (3/10)
Editorial: County undermines Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust talks (3/8)
Chumash Tribe upset by lack of progress in land-into-trust talks (3/3)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe battles opponents at every turn (02/11)
Editorial: Stop using every opportunity to battle Chumash Tribe (01/28)
Chumash Tribe asks county to enter land-into-trust agreement (01/14)
Chumash Tribe and county finally meet to discuss land issues (09/25)
County finally agrees to discuss land issues with Chumash Tribe (08/26)
Chumash Tribe asks county to come to the table to discuss land (08/12)
Chumash Tribe paid $15M for 350 acres by land-into-trust site (08/04)
Chumash Tribe buys 350 acres next to land-into-trust site (7/24)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe defeats opponents once again (07/16)
Editorial: County must treat Chumash Tribe as a good neighbor (7/10)
Chumash Tribe defeats lawsuit that sought to halt casino expansion (7/7)
Chumash Tribe wins dismissal of suit over status of reservation (7/3)
Editorial: County stonewalling Chumash Tribe on development (06/26)
Lawmakers slam county for poor dealings with Chumash Tribe (06/18)
The Canary: Guess what guys - the Chumash Tribe was here first (06/18)
Witness list for House hearing on tribal and Alaska Native bills (6/17)
House subcommittee sets hearing on tribal and Alaska Native bills (6/15)
Chumash Tribe legal team 'laughed' at suit over casino expansion (04/09)
Opponents not happy with land-into-trust bill for Chumash Tribe (03/05)
Chumash Tribe cheers introduction of land-into-trust measure (3/4)
Opinion: Let's rethink federal policy toward tribal sovereignty (02/19)
Vincent Armenta: You can't rewrite tribes and tribal sovereignty (02/09)
Eldon Shiffman: Give Chumash Tribe a chance to reclaim its land (02/02)
Luis Alejo: Apologize to the Chumash Tribe for 'hurtful' remarks (1/30)
County files appeal over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust decision (1/27)
Opinion: Wealthy tribes shouldn't follow land-into-trust process (1/26)
Chumash Tribe slams official for questioning 'reservation system' (01/16)
Chumash Tribe welcomes approval of land-into-trust application (01/08)
Rep. Capps opposes Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust measure (03/14)