Land claim appeal says tribes aren't real

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2003

The state of New York, two counties and 7,000 private landowners have filed a 249-page brief challenging the Cayuga Nation land claim.

According to The Syracuse Post-Standard, the defendants allege that the Cayuga Nation and the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe aren't real tribes. Therefore, land transactions they made with the state aren't protected under the Non-Intercourse Act, the brief states.

The defendants are challenging a ruling by U.S. District Judge Neal P. McCurn. He awarded the Cayuga plaintiffs $247.9 million in damages for 64,000 acres of stolen land.

The tribes say the award is too low.

Get the Story:
Land claim appeal faults pro-Indian rulings (The Great Falls Tribune 4/9)

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