The Bureau of Indian Affairs shouldn't take land into trust for New York tribes without the state's approval "in appropriate cases," Gov. George Pataki (R) said.

Pataki said the BIA needs to take into account the state's position in deciding on land-into-trust requests by the Oneida Nation and the Cayuga Nation. Both tribes filed applications after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tribes cannot "unilaterally" assert sovereignty over their land claim areas.

Pataki also said the BIA shouldn't take all of the Oneida Nation's land into trust. The tribe has purchased about 18,000 acres within its land claim area.

Without trust land protection, the Oneida Nation will be given a tax bill of about $400,000 this year by the town of Verona. The town claims the tribe's properties are worth $384 million, including $362.5 million for the casino resort.

Get the Story:
Pataki on Federal Trusts (The Syracuse Post-Standard 4/27)
Town: Turning Stone worth $378M (The Syracuse Post-Standard 4/28)
Oneidas get tax bill for casino (AP 4/28)
Value of Turning Stone made public (Turn to 10 News 4/27)

Get the Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

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)

Related Stories:
New York Senate votes against trust land for tribes (4/20)
Counties challenge Cayuga Nation on sovereignty (4/19)
Supreme Court ruling impacts New York land claims (4/19)
Cayuga Nation seeks BIA protection for lands (4/15)
Pataki, county blast Oneida Nation's trust land bid (4/14)
County to challenge Cayuga Nation sovereignty (4/14)
Oneida Nation seeks trust land in wake of ruling (4/14)
Cayuga tribes confident on land claim appeal (4/12)
Supreme Court decision derails Pataki settlements (4/11)
Seneca-Cayuga Tribe to pay taxes on acquired land (4/8)
Supreme Court called less sympathetic to Indians (4/7)
Fallout from Supreme Court ruling on Oneida Nation (4/6)
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (03/31)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (3/30)
Pataki, city, foes pleased with Oneida Nation ruling (3/30)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (3/29)
Oneida Nation ruling could impact land claims (01/13)
Passage of time at issue in Oneida Nation case (01/12)
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