County provides response in Chumash Tribe land-into-trust flap

Wednesday, August 15, 2012  

Officials in Santa Barbara County are giving their side of a land-into-trust dispute with the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians.

Chairman Vincent Armenta testified before the House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs earlier this month and said the county has been unresponsive to a proposal to address land issues. So Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the chairman of the subcommittee, asked the county for more information.

The county's chief executive officer is responding by a deadline today, The Santa Maria Times reported. Doreen Farr, a supervisor who has criticized the tribe, is also providing her own views to Young, who has threatened to intervene to help the tribe with housing and other issues.

Young, however, has no plans to introduce a bill for the tribe.

Get the Story:
Farr, SB County react to Chumash complaint (The Santa Maria Times 8/15)

Committee Notice:
Oversight Hearing on "Indian lands: exploring resolutions to disputes concerning Indian tribes, state and local governments, and private landowners over land use and development" (August 2, 2012)

Related Stories:
Rep. Young not planning for Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bill (8/8)
Audio from House subcommittee hearing on tribal land issues (8/3)
Opposition groups appeal Chumash Tribe land-into-trust ruling (7/26)
Vincent Armenta: Land-into-trust fight shows need for museum (07/19)
Chumash Tribe battles land-into-trust opponents for 10+ years (7/12)
County won't dispute Chumash Tribe land-into-trust application (7/11)
Editorial: Challenge Chumash Tribe's land-into-trust application (7/10)
BIA cites Carcieri in backing Chumash Tribe land-into-trust bid (6/27)