There were violent scenes in February as two rival Cayuga factions clashed when a years-long leadership dispute boiled over. (Image: Kevin Rivoli\/The Citizen<\/em>)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe decision — 15 years after the tribe first applied to the DOI to have land taken into trust — nixes the tribal council\u2019s long-held ambitions to elevate its humble bingo operations in Union Springs into a full-fledged casino resort.<\/p>\n
Land into trust describes the process by which the federal government takes land by voluntary transfer and converts it into sovereign tribal territory. That removes it from the jurisdiction of the state. This is a prerequisite for the establishment of a tribal casino under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (1988).<\/strong><\/p>\nBut the DOI said no dice. In a letter addressed to tribal leader Clint Halftown dated July 3 but received late last week, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney said that destruction of property instigated by Halftown in February was a major reason for the rejection.<\/p>\n
Guns Drawn<\/strong><\/h2>\nOn February 22, under Halftown\u2019s orders, members of the Cayuga Nation police department bulldozed several buildings — including a working daycare center, a schoolhouse, and a store — controlled by a rival faction, \u201cthe Unity Council,\u201d which does not recognize Halftown\u2019s leadership.<\/p>\n
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Witnesses said the police pointed handguns at the heads of the buildings\u2019 security officers, who were told they would be shot if they did not stand down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
A week later, the two factions clashed violently, and pepper spray was used to disperse the crowd.<\/strong><\/p>\nThe Unity Council claims its members were chosen by the clan mothers in 2003 to lead the tribe after the death of a previous chief. This was the year Halftown became the tribe\u2019s federal representative, which is a position the Unity Council does not recognize. Their goal is to maintain tribal traditions, and they oppose Halftown\u2019s casino ambitions.<\/p>\n
Irrational Actions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\u201cThe destruction of property — including a daycare and a schoolhouse — and significant acts of public violence are serious matters, and they weaken the trust that the Nation\u2019s government can operate at this time in a harmonious manner with the other governments and law enforcement officers that share the same geography as the Nation\u2019s reservation,\u201d wrote Sweeney.<\/p>\n
\u201cTaking the Property into trust at this time could heighten the current tension between the Nation and its neighbors, further complicating and exacerbating an already inflammatory situation,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
In an official statement, Halftown reacted furiously to the decision, calling it \u201carbitrary and irrational,\u201d and slammed the DOI for lacking the \u201ccourage to overcome local political pressure, much of it racially motivated.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\u201cThe Department abdicated its legal responsibility to the Nation for 15 years and continues to do so,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The US Interior Department has denied the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York\u2019s trust application, citing an internal leadership dispute that turned nasty in February. The decision — 15 years after the tribe first applied to the DOI to have land taken into trust — nixes the tribal council\u2019s long-held ambitions to elevate its humble […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":36,"featured_media":144452,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[61,18456],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Cayuga Nation Casino Dreams Bulldozed by DOI After Violent In-Fighting<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n