Oneida Nation
Looks to Resolve Land Debate
As reported by the Albany
Times Union: "The Oneida Nation of New York
proposes to resolve the giant Oneida land claim
in central New York for $250 million from the state
and the right to a reservation of 27,500 acres,
according to a confidential document submitted to
a federal mediator.
"The proposal -- a substantial concession
to a deal proposed in 2002 by Gov. George Pataki
-- is exorbitant based on recent court decisions
unfavorable to the Oneidas, central New York elected
officials said Thursday.
"The offer came from Oneida representative
Ray Halbritter late last week after a mediation
session in July involving all the parties of the
250,000-acre land claim suit. The mediator called
together the four plaintiffs -- the federal government
and three Oneida factions -- and defendants, including
county and state governments.
"…A source briefed about the Wisconsin
tribe's proposal, said the tribe is holding to the
terms Pataki had included in legislation has has
since withdrawn. The deal would have allowed the
Wisconsin Oneidas to pay off the New York tribe
for any monetary damaged owed. The deal also called
for giving the Wisconsin tribe a gaming compact
for a Catskills casino and 1,000 acres of land in
central New York for ceremonial purposes. Pataki
withdrew the deal because it also allowed the New
York Oneidas to 35,000 acres of Indian land."
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