Interior Solicitor Leo M. Krulitz announced today that a tentative agreement has been reached on a proposed legislative settlement which would give the Cayuga Indian Nation a 548l-acre reservation and an $8 million trust fund in return for extinguishment of the Nation's claim to 64,000 acres in Seneca and Cayuga Counties New York.
"I am delighted to report that all parties to the negotiations--the Cayuga Nation, the State of New York and the Departments of Agriculture and 1nterior--have worked out an agreement on the Cayuga claim," said Krulitz.
A public meeting has been scheduled on the settlement proposal for 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, September 11, in the Delavan Little Theater at Eisenhower College, Seneca Falls, N.Y. Krulitz said the Cayuga Indian Claim work group, which includes federal, state and tribal representatives, will explain the background of the claim and the settlement proposal. The work group will consider modifications to the settlement proposal based on the public's comments before legislation is drafted implementing the settlement. Final settlement will depend upon Congressional approval and a vote of the tribal membership.
"I want to congratulate everyone woo worked so hard to reach this agreement. It proves again that negotiation can result in satisfactory settlements without years of costly court fights," said Krulitz.
The Interior and Justice Departments determined in 1977 that the Cayuga Indian Nation had a credible claim to the return of 64,000 acres--its former reservation, confirmed in a 1794 treaty with the federal government. The lands were later lost in transactions with the State of New York. The transactions were never ratified by the Congress and so are allegedly invalid under the Indian Non-Intercourse Act of 1790.
