The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear oral arguments in Oneida Indian Nation v. City of Sherrill.

The tribe, based in New York, has purchased properties in its land claim area. A federal judge and a federal appeals court have ruled that this land is Indian Country, free from state and local taxation.

Officials in the city of Sherrill disagree. They say the tribe's former reservation was extinguished, making the property subject to taxes.

Tribes with land claims in New York are watching the case because it could affect their rights. The tribes are trying to establish their reservations and assert sovereignty free of state and local control.

The National Congress of American Indians, several tribes and the Bush administration are backing the Oneida Nation. The administration is urging the court to limit its ruling to taxation rather than address pending land claims.

Officials in upstate New York are backing and opponents of the tribe are backing the city. They are hoping for a broad ruling that will limit the land claims.

Get the Story:
High Court to hear Sherrill appeal Tuesday (The Oneida Dispatch 1/10)
Land, Taxes and a Dispute as Old as the United States (The New York Times 1/10)
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High court to hear Indian tax case (The Utica-Observer Dispatch 1/9)
Sherrill v. Oneidas Ruling to Shape Future (The Syracuse Post-Standard 1/9)
Case may not affect state's tribes (The Muskogee Phoenix 1/9)
Editorial: Native land rulings not in interest of community (The Muskogee Phoenix 1/9)
Indian land dispute could have far-reaching effects (AP 1/8)

Relevant Documents:
Briefs | Docket Sheet No. 03-855

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation - http://www.oneida-nation.net
NARF-NCAI Tribal Supreme Court Project - http://doc.narf.org/sc/index.html

Decision in Oneida Indian Nation v. City of Sherrill:
Majority Opinion | Van Graafeiland Dissent

Decision in Cayuga Indian Nation v. Village of Union Springs:
Decision | Order (April 23, 2004)

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