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 and officials in Santa Barbara County, California, remain far apart on the tribe's land-into-trust applications.

The tribe had to go to Congress to pressure the county to sit down for talks. But Chairman Vincent Armenta said local officials remain hostile, citing their decision to appeal an application for 2.18 acres.

The board of supervisors voted 3-2 on Tuesday to fight the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The decision came during a closed session -- there was no advance notice in the agenda for the meeting.

“For all intents and purposes, the county has abandoned these parcels and has provided no meaningful services such that these parcels are de facto parts of the Santa Ynez Reservation,” Chairman Vincent Armenta said in a press release.

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 on March 1, 2016, to fight the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians on yet another land-into-trust application.

The tribe has applications pending for various parcels, including a 6.9-acre site that was delayed by litigation and administrative appeals for more than a decade. A 1,400-acre application remains the subject of heated local opposition and is the subject of H.R.3313, the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians Land Transfer Act.

The 2.18-acre parcel is known locally as the Mooney-Escobar.parcels. The county will challenge the application before the Interior Board of Indian Appeals and, if necessary, in federal court, according to the board's minutes.

Get the Story:
Talks break down between Chumash, county subcommittee (The Lompoc Record 3/3)
Tribe, county return to bargaining table Thursday (The Lompoc Record 3/2)

An Opinion:
Bruce Porter: Balancing tribal needs and moving forward--as neighbors (The Santa Maria Sun 3/1)

Related Stories:
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe battles opponents at every turn (02/11)
Editorial: Stop using every opportunity to battle Chumash Tribe (01/28)
Chumash Tribe asks county to enter land-into-trust agreement (01/14)
Chumash Tribe and county finally meet to discuss land issues (09/25)
County finally agrees to discuss land issues with Chumash Tribe (08/26)
Chumash Tribe asks county to come to the table to discuss land (08/12)
Chumash Tribe paid $15M for 350 acres by land-into-trust site (08/04)
Chumash Tribe buys 350 acres next to land-into-trust site (7/24)
Vincent Armenta: Chumash Tribe defeats opponents once again (07/16)
Editorial: County must treat Chumash Tribe as a good neighbor (7/10)
Chumash Tribe defeats lawsuit that sought to halt casino expansion (7/7)
Chumash Tribe wins dismissal of suit over status of reservation (7/3)
Editorial: County stonewalling Chumash Tribe on development (06/26)
Lawmakers slam county for poor dealings with Chumash Tribe (06/18)
The Canary: Guess what guys - the Chumash Tribe was here first (06/18)
Witness list for House hearing on tribal and Alaska Native bills (6/17)
House subcommittee sets hearing on tribal and Alaska Native bills (6/15)
Chumash Tribe legal team 'laughed' at suit over casino expansion (04/09)
Opponents not happy with land-into-trust bill for Chumash Tribe (03/05)
Chumash Tribe cheers introduction of land-into-trust measure (3/4)
Opinion: Let's rethink federal policy toward tribal sovereignty (02/19)
Vincent Armenta: You can't rewrite tribes and tribal sovereignty (02/09)
Eldon Shiffman: Give Chumash Tribe a chance to reclaim its land (02/02)
Luis Alejo: Apologize to the Chumash Tribe for 'hurtful' remarks (1/30)
County files appeal over Chumash Tribe land-into-trust decision (1/27)
Opinion: Wealthy tribes shouldn't follow land-into-trust process (1/26)
Chumash Tribe slams official for questioning 'reservation system' (01/16)
Chumash Tribe welcomes approval of land-into-trust application (01/08)