NYLJ: Panel Rejects Oneida Bid for Compensation For Upstate Land

U.S. Court Of Appeals, Second Circuit

Panel Rejects Oneida Bid for Compensation For Upstate Land

Oneida Indian Nation of New York, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida of The Thames—Plaintiffs-Appellees-Cross-Appellants, United States of America —Intervenor-Plaintiff-Appellee-Cross-Appellant, v. County of Oneida, County of Madison—Defendants-Cross-Appellees, State of New York—Defendant-Appellant-Cross-Appellee, 07-2430-cv(L), 07-2548-cv(XAP), 07-2550-cv(XAP) (full text of Decision)

The Oneida Indian Nation lost a major court decision Monday that could doom its 40-year-old land claim case. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled that the nation can’t reclaim its ancient lands and the state doesn’t have to pay any money for the 250,000 acres the Oneidas say was illegally taken from them centuries ago. The Oneidas had said they were owed at least $500 million. If the ruling stands, it sweeps away decades of uncertainty for thousands of landowners in Oneida and Madison counties, who at one point faced eviction under the lawsuit.

(See full article- The Post- Standard [Syracuse])