Indianz.Com > News > Deadline this week on Oneida land-into-trust

Deadline this week on Oneida land-into-trust
Monday, June 16, 2008
Filed Under: Law | Trust

Thursday is the deadline to challenge the Interior Department's decision to take 13,000 acres into trust for the Oneida Nation.

Four challenges are in the works. One from the state of New York and two counties, another from two towns, a third from Upstate Citizens for Equality and another from a group that includes the Citizens Equal Rights Alliance.

The state's lawsuit is based on 18 claims. According to The Utica Pennysaver, it raises a constitutional challenge to the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934.

At least three circuit courts have upheld the land-into-trust provisions as constitutional. The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to consider the issue in those cases.

Get the Story:
Multiple approaches planned in Oneida trust case (The Utica Pennysaver 6/16)

Relevant Documents:
Record of Decision | Final EIS (March 2008) | Draft EIS (November 2006)

From the Indianz.Com Archive:
BIA official calls high court ruling 'quite depressing' (March 31, 2005)
Major defeat for Oneida Nation in Supreme Court case (March 30, 2005)

Relevant Links:
Indian Nation Fee-to-Trust Land Acquisition Applications in New York State - http://www.dec.ny.gov/public/888.html
Oneida Indian Nation's Land Into Trust Application, Madison County - http://www.madisoncounty.org/motf/OINTrustMain.html

Sherrill v. Oneida Nation Decision:
Syllabus | Opinion [Ginsburg] | Concurrence [Souter] | Dissent [Stevens]