Oregon Sens. Gordon Smith (R) and Ron Wyden (D) are asking the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians and Douglas County to work together to resolve an "impasse" over the tribe's land-into-trust application.

The Roseburg News-Review reports that the senators wrote a letter to the tribe and to the county. They supported the right of the tribe to acquire land under the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934 but said the county has a right to comment on the tribe's application.

The tribe wants to acquire land in downtown Roseburg. The city supports the bid but some county commissioners, including two who have been accused of making racist statements about Native Americans, are fighting it.

Get the Story:
Senators ask county, tribe to settle their differences (The Roseburg News-Review 7/19)
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Cow Creek, county at odds over land intended for trust (The Eugene Register-Guard 7/17)

Relevant Links:
Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians - http://www.cowcreek.com

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Uproar over comparison of Oregon tribe to Nazis (08/26)
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