The Oneida Nation of New York was in court on Wednesday to argue against foreclosure of its lands in Madison County.

The tribe acknowledged that it might have to pay property taxes on land that it owns in the county. But the tribe said the U.S. Supreme Court's recent ruling in the Sherrill case doesn't mean the county can take the land away. A lawyer said the tribe is open to negotiations.

The Supreme Court, by an 8-1 vote, said the tribe can't "unilaterally" assert its sovereignty on its properties without going through the land-into-trust process. The tribe has asked the Bureau of Indian Affairs to acquire 17,000 acres in trust.

Get the Story:
Judge hears arguments in Oneidas' case (The Syracuse Post-Standard 9/8)

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

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

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