Elected officials begin process of fighting government ruling on Oneida Indian Nation land into trust
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By PAT BAILEY
Story Created:
May 21, 2008 at 5:41 PM EDT
Story Updated:
May 21, 2008 at 6:12 PM EDT
VERONA - The process of fighting the U.S. Department of the Interior's ruling regarding 13,000 acres of Oneida Indian Nation land, began Wednesday.
And if anyone is going to do that, they only have 30 days to act.
So Wednesday a group of Oneida County elected officials informed the public of how they will pursue a case against the U.S. Department of the Interior.
At a news conference earlier today, nine elected officials from Oneida County, talked about a lawsuit. They said they must pursue one, because at this point it is their best option.
They use the example of the Sherrill vs. Oneida Indian Nation ruling in 2005, which the city won, that said the lands re-acquired by the Indian Nation were, in fact, subject to local taxes.
Elected leaders say they are past the point of negotiations and this matter now belongs in the courts.
"Negotiations hasn't worked in the past 10 or 15 years," said Owen Waller, Verona Town Supervisor. "That's a fruitless endeavor. The only way you're getting resolution to this is take it back to the Supreme Court and let them rule on it as they did in 2005 case and we will get resolution that way."
Waller went on to say that he has proof that the Oneida Indian Nation paid a lobbyist in Washington, who personally knows the Associate Deputy Secretary for the Department of the Interior's James Casson. Casson was one of the two names on Tuesday's ruling.
In response, the Oneida Indian Nation says:
"They are grasping at straws. Both sides use attorneys / lobbyists that cost a lot. The difference is the Oneida Nation did not use tax payer dollars to pay for it."
As far as the lawsuit goes, elected officials will be sending a letter to Governor David Paterson Thursday, asking for the states help in representing them.
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