"In February 2002, in a spirit of cooperation not conflict, Madison and Oneida counties, the Oneida Indian Nation, and New York state publicly announced the framework for settlement of the Oneida land claim. Twenty years after the Supreme Court ruled the Oneida Nation has a valid land claim, the 2002 framework resolved the major land and money issues for the community and all its residents.

It was a solution that created a $100 million windfall to replace taxes and allowed county leaders to use that money however they desired. It also resolved many local issues in order to avoid future conflicts and disputes.

In negotiating the terms of the framework, the Oneida Nation's guiding principle was (and still is) that we must all make decisions for future generations as neighbors to live in harmony after the claim is settled."

Get the Story:
Ray Halbritter: Resolve the issues (The Syracuse Post-Standard 6/16)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Jim Cason / Mike Olsen (June 10, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Oneida Nation - http://www.oneida-nation.net

Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]

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