Officials from four counties in New York were in Washington, D.C., on Thursday to meet with Jim Cason, the associate deputy secretary of the Interior Department.

Cayuga, Madison, Oneida and Seneca counties are fighting land-into-trust applications filed by the Oneida Nation, the Cayuga Nation and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe. They say the tribes shouldn't be allowed to reclaim ancestral land.

The meetings were arranged by Sen. Charles Schumer (D-New York). He said Cason promised to visit New York before he makes a decision.

Carl Artman, the Bureau of Indian Affairs nominee, told Indianz.Com yesterday he has recused himself from Haudenosaunee / Iroquois land issues due to his tribe's involvement. He is a member of the Oneida Nation from Wisconsin.

Get the Story:
Schumer: Meeting is good first step (The Syracuse Post-Standard 9/15)
Dept. of Interior official to tour counties opposed to land in trust applications (The Auburn Citizen 9/14)

Cayuga Land Claim Decision:
Cayuga Nation v. New York (June 28, 2005)

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

Relevant Links:
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ogc/lands.html

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