"The U.S. Department of the Interior recently finalized a decision on the Oneida Indian Nation of New York's federal land-into-trust application. This decision will result in just over 13,000 acres of Oneida-owned lands leaving the local and county tax rolls forever.

What happened in Oneida and Madison counties could happen here - but it doesn't have to.

The federal trust process is not meant to solve Indian land claims. In fact, the process leaves a number of contentious issues unresolved, such as: whether the tribe can request to have additional land placed in trust; whether the tribe will conduct gaming on its lands; how development on tribal lands will impact adjacent properties; regulatory and tax jurisdiction over Nation-owned lands not taken into trust; municipal services (roads, water and sewers); and support for local school districts that encompass tribal lands.

A comprehensive, negotiated settlement can address all of these issues and potentially eliminate the need for, or at least limit the scope of, costly and uncertain litigation following any decision."

Get the Story:
Rep Michael Arcuri: Counties should negotiate land claims (The Auburn Citizen 6/5)

Relevant Documents:
Record of Decision | Final EIS (March 2008) | Draft EIS (November 2006)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (March 31, 2005)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (March 30, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/888.html
Oneida Indian Nation's Land Into Trust Application, Madison County - http://www.madisoncounty.org/motf/OINTrustMain.html

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

Related Stories:
2nd Circuit hears Oneida land claim appeals (6/4)
2nd Circuit to hear appeals of Oneida land claim (6/2)
Oneida employees pleased by land-into-trust ruling (5/28)
Editorial: Fight Oneida land-into-trust decision (5/26)
New York governor criticizes Oneida decision (5/23)
Lawsuits awaited over Oneida land-into-trust (5/22)
Oneida Nation wins approval of land-into-trust application (05/21)
Editorial: Regulate Oneida Nation trust lands (5/16)
Editorial: Clarity on Oneida Nation land-into-trust (5/8)
Interior delays decision on Oneida land-into-trust (5/7)
Sen. Schumer seeks delay on Oneida land-into-trust (5/6)
Editorial: Questions on Oneida Nation land-into-trust (5/1)
Decision on Oneida land-into-trust due this week (4/28)
Wisconsin tribe objects to Oneida land-into-trust (4/25)
Rep. Acuri: Explaining Oneida land-into-trust rider (4/10)
Rep. Arcuri tried to block Oneida land-into-trust (4/9)
Cason 'elusive' on Oneida Nation decision (4/4)
BIA still reviewing Oneida Nation land-into-trust (3/31)
Oneida Nation, county meet for first time in years (3/28)
Oneida Nation asks BIA for all 17,000 acres in trust (3/25)
County discusses Oneida Nation land-into-trust (03/07)
Cason to follow through on Oneida land-into-trust (2/25)
BIA to rule on Oneida trust lands request (2/22)
Cason to brief counties on Oneida land-into-trust (2/22)