NEW YORK STATE -- The Oneida Indian Nation runs a casino, gas stations and other businesses. Now, 13,000 acres of New York land will be placed into trust for the group. The federal government made the announcement Tuesday, essentially exempting the land from state taxes and laws.
In a statement, the Oneidas said: "The Oneida people are sincerely grateful to everyone whose hard work has led to this initial step toward further securing our Oneida homelands. Ongoing future disagreements may be resolved through a reasonable negotiation process. A settlement, of course, would require all parties to make compromises. "
The Oneida's filed their trust application back in 2005. It's been a controversial issue ever since. Needless to say, reaction to this news is mixed.
"They've been waiting for this moment for a while and they should have received it awhile ago, before now, and they fulfilled a lot of careers in this area," said Oneida resident Braheen Karadsheh.
The U.S. Department of Interior made a land trust decision in favor on the Oneida Indian Nation. Our Giselle Phelps has the details on the land issue that's been several years in the making.
"They only thing that really bothers me is the effect it will have on taxes as a homeowner and as a parent," said Oneida resident Jamie Jones.
Most state and local leaders are simply unhappy with the news. Oneida and Madison counties supported no more than 1,000 acres in trust.
"It is not what we wanted to hear, it is not at all what pleases us in any way. The Department of Interior has clearly acted against the stated interest of the people of the local communities who are impacted most directly by the Oneida Indian Nation’s operations," said Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr.
The county plans to take legal action and so do other groups concerned with decision.
"The central issue is the federal government does not have the constitutional right to take this land into trust away for New York State. Those issues will be aired in a court of law," said Upstate Citizens for Equality President David Vickers.
Opponents have 30 days to file objections in federal court.
The Oneidas say in order to reach a settlement, they're willing to negotiate limits on future trust land acquisitions. They say the state and counties must offer what they call "good-faith compromises.”