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Monday, October 6, 2003

The Bush administration won't pay $250 million to settle the Oneida Nation land claim, an aide to Secretary of Interior Gale Norton said in a confidential letter.

Michael Rossetti, counselor to Norton, wrote the letter in August, The Syracuse Post-Standard reported. But no one involved in the case could talk about it because the federal judge overseeing the land claim has imposed a confidentiality order on negotiations.

Under a settlement announced by Gov. George Pataki (R) and Oneida Nation representative Ray Halbritter, the federal government is to pay $250 million of a $500 million settlement to the Oneida of New York, Wisconsin and Canada. The Department of Justice and the Oneidas of Wisconsin and Canada weren't involved in the negotiations.

Get the Story:
Feds refuse to pay $250M; Oneida land claim pact fails (The Syracuse Post-Standard 10/5)

Related Stories:
Talks continue over Oneida land claim (06/12)
Oneida land claim talks said progressing (05/07)
Oneida Nation land claim talks at standstill (02/10)
Mediation over land claim extended (12/06)
N.Y. land claim talks called 'fiasco' (8/12)
Oneida Nation claim could be limited (7/2)
Judge issues ruling on Oneida claim (4/3)
Oneida land deal faces major doubts (2/21)
Oneida land deal being rejected (2/20)
Wisconsin Oneida blast agreement (2/19)

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