Senecas Vote to Rescind Thruway Pact (NY)

NY Times ^ | April 20, 2007 | DAVID STABA

[neverdem]

Leaders of the Seneca Nation have voted to rescind a 1954 agreement that allowed the New York State Thruway to run through the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation south of Buffalo. “The agreement is declared null and void,” Maurice A. John Sr., president of the Seneca Nation, said yesterday. The nation’s tribal council passed a resolution on Saturday arguing that the agreement, which allowed construction of three miles of the highway on Seneca land, is invalid because it was never approved by the secretary of the interior.

[IYAAYAS]

Anyone else ever been to Seneca Army depot? Land of the albino deer herd.

[Not now, Not ever!]

So, now what? get your throughway off our reservation?

[PzLdr]

I got two words for the Senecas: General Sullivan.

[Chode]

[Chode]

p.s. they aren't albinos... they are white deer with black noses and brown eyes.

[CTSeditor]

Now, the Tribal Council rescinded the 1954 agreement that authorized the Thruway right of way across 300 acres of their Cattaraugus reservation.

The Seneca Nation accepted $75,000 to allow Interstate 90 onto its land.

http://www.fox23news.com/news/state/story.aspx?content_id=aaeb66f0-18b1-492a-b5e2-e6f0e1f91577

[appeal2]

This sounds like they are bucking for a casino. They will trade a piece of the Thruway for a casino, sounds like a fair trade.

[conservative in nyc]

The Senecas want to stop the state from trying to collect sales, cigarette and gasoline taxes on reservation sales to non-Indians. That’s what this story is really about. They’re threatening to put a toll booth on the Thruway.

[appeal2]

I know all about that, but if there is anything at all to their claim, they will go for a casino. They are a federally recognized tribe and this could give Spitzer cover to push through another non-reservation casino to settle their claim. They would be completely short-sighted and narrow minded not to go for the whole deal.