Pataki puts land claim settlements on hold

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Monday, April 18, 2005 | 9:32 a.m.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Gov. George Pataki on Friday said he was withdrawing pending land claim settlements with four Indian tribes, saying a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court made it necessary to "review and re-evaluate" the proposals.

The governor, though, remains committed to the settlements, which would allow the four tribes to each operate a Las Vegas-style casino in the Catskills, said Pataki spokesman Todd Alhart.

"Given the Sherrill decision, it had become clear that certain provisions of the Oneida and Cayuga settlements will not be supported by the local governments or by some in the state Legislature," Alhart said.

Last year, Pataki reached a series of proposed settlements with the Cayuga Indian Nation of New York, the Seneca-Cayuga Tribe of Oklahoma, the Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohican Indians and the Akwesasne Mohawks.