Oneida Nation Looks to Resolve Land Debate As reported by the Albany Times Union: "The Oneida Nation of New York proposes to resolve the giant Oneida land claim in central New York for $250 million from the state and the right to a reservation of 27,500 acres, according to a confidential document submitted to a federal mediator. "The proposal -- a substantial concession to a deal proposed in 2002 by Gov. George Pataki -- is exorbitant based on recent court decisions unfavorable to the Oneidas, central New York elected officials said Thursday. "The offer came from Oneida representative Ray Halbritter late last week after a mediation session in July involving all the parties of the 250,000-acre land claim suit. The mediator called together the four plaintiffs -- the federal government and three Oneida factions -- and defendants, including county and state governments. "…A source briefed about the Wisconsin tribe's proposal, said the tribe is holding to the terms Pataki had included in legislation has has since withdrawn. The deal would have allowed the Wisconsin Oneidas to pay off the New York tribe for any monetary damaged owed. The deal also called for giving the Wisconsin tribe a gaming compact for a Catskills casino and 1,000 acres of land in central New York for ceremonial purposes. Pataki withdrew the deal because it also allowed the New York Oneidas to 35,000 acres of Indian land."
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