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JULY 27, 2000

After years of opposition, the Cabazon Band of Mission Indians have dropped their efforts against legislation that would settle the outstanding land and water claims of the Torres-Martinez Band of Desert Cahuilla.

The Cabazon tribe had opposed part of the bill because it would have allowed the Torres-Martinez to purchase land in the Cabazon "sphere of influence."

The Cabazon will now drop their opposition in exchange for veto power over any casino the Cahuilla propose near the Cabazon reservation.

Supporters of the bill now are hoping the settlement will soon become law. It passed the House Resources Committee on Wednesday.

The Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians Settlement Act would compensate the Cahuilla for having 11,800 acres of its land covered by the Salton Sea. The bill would pay the tribe $14 million in damages, $10 million from the federal government and $2 million each from the Imperial Irrigation District and Coachella Valley Water District.

In the 1980s, the Department of Justice sued the two water districts on the tribe's behalf. The suit is still pending in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and on the legislation, which is proposed by Representative Mary Bono (R-Calif).

Get the Story:
Cabazons now try to undo damage (The Desert Sun 6/27)
Two tribes agree on land deal, casino site (The Desert Sun 6/27)

Related Stories:
Tribes talk settlement (Tribal Law 07/18)
Tribe revitalizes (Money Matters 07/12)
Tribe begins power project (Money Matters 06/21)
Bill would compensate Cahuilla (Tribal Law 06/14)

Get the Bill:
HR 4663 (To provide for the settlement of issues and claims related to the trust lands of the Torres-Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians, and for other purposes)