Tribal leaders, from left: Mike Lopez, Maxine Littlejohn, Chairman Vincent Armenta, Secretary/Treasurer Gary Pace and Vice Chair Kenneth Kahn. Photo from Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians
The Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians has asked Santa Barbara County, California, to enter into government-to-government talks. The tribe wants to discuss a land-into-trust application for two parcels totaling about two acres, The Lompoc Record reported. The properties provide one of the only roads with access to the reservation, the paper said. "They are an integral part of the reservation," Chairman Vincent Armenta said in a statement to the paper.
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It's not clear how the county will respond. The board of supervisors previously refused to engage in government-to-government talks over a controversial application for 1,400 acres. The Bureau of Indian Affairs has approved the application but the county has filed an appeal. The situation prompted the introduction of H.R.1157, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians Land Transfer Act, a bill that would outright place the land in trust. The tribe has since acquired 350 acres adjacent to that site. Get the Story:
Chumash exploring annexation options for two-acre property (The Lompoc Record 8/12)
Chumash want to build a stronger community (The Santa Maria Sun 8/5)
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