Post by blackcrowheart on Mar 11, 2006 21:25:11 GMT -5
Indian Affairs accused of conflict
Indian Affairs accused of conflict Group that will rule on Oneida
Nation land trust stayed at Turning Stone. Thursday, March 09, 2006
By Alaina Potrikus Staff writer
www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/madison/index.ssf?/base/news-2\
/1141898595251740.xml&coll=1
<http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/madison/index.ssf?/base/news-\
2/1141898595251740.xml&coll=1>
Federal officials tasked with making a controversial decision about the
Oneida Indian Nation's trust application stayed at the tribe's resort
when they visited the region earlier this year for public hearings on
the matter.
According to documents obtained by The Post-Standard under the Freedom
of Information Law, Bureau of Indian Affairs officials stayed two nights
at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in January and dined at the resort's
Pino Bianco Trattoria.
From the windows of their rooms in the nation's newly constructed Tower
hotel, the federal officials likely had a panoramic view of much of the
17,000 acres in Madison and Oneida counties that the tribe wants taken
into federal custody, which would remove it from local tax rolls and
jurisdiction.
<http://ads.nj.com/RealMedia/ads/click_nx.ads/www.nj.com/xml/story//n/ne\
mad/@storyad?x>
Their choice of accommodations has many grumbling about a conflict of
interest.
"It does not strike me as a neutral body," said Jim Brod, who co-owns
Dibble's Inn in Vernon. "I don't think it's reasonable for (the BIA) to
be making a decision that these people don't have to pay taxes."
Added Oneida County Attorney Randy Caldwell: "Although we understand
that the BIA is an advocacy group for Indian tribes, we are concerned
about the lodging arrangements and would have thought the BIA would have
been more sensitive to any appearance of impropriety."
But BIA officials don't see it that way.
"When we're in Indian country, we try to stay in places that are run by
Indian tribes," said Nedra Darling, speaking for the BIA. "It's the
people we serve. It's not a secret thing. We hope that other people do
this as well, promoting economic opportunities for those communities."
Staying at Indian-run establishments is part of the BIA's mission
statement to "promote economic opportunity" and "protect and improve the
trust assets of American Indians." The practice is bolstered by the Buy
Indian Act, a federal code that encourages Interior Department
employees, including BIA officials, to use Indian labor and products "so
far as may be practicable."
"We pay for our services there; we got nothing free," Darling said of
the Turning Stone stay. "We don't see it as a conflict. It wouldn't
influence our decision."
Oneida Indian Nation spokesman Mark Emery had no comment.
According to hotel receipts for three BIA officials, each paid $70 a
night a government rate for Tower hotel rooms that usually go for $109
to $185. Some officials stayed there again last week when they were in
town for public hearings on the Cayuga Indian Nation's trust application
and for an informational meeting in Utica for the Oneidas' case. The BIA
is expected to make a decision on the Oneidas' trust application by the
end of the year.
Mark Metzger, owner of Gallopin' Acres Motel on Route 5 in Vernon,
wasn't surprised federal officials stayed at the casino.
"They have the best accommodations," he said. "But it's just another way
of showing that the politicians are not taking a stand against this very
important issue."
Indian Affairs accused of conflict Group that will rule on Oneida
Nation land trust stayed at Turning Stone. Thursday, March 09, 2006
By Alaina Potrikus Staff writer
www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/madison/index.ssf?/base/news-2\
/1141898595251740.xml&coll=1
<http://www.syracuse.com/news/poststandard/madison/index.ssf?/base/news-\
2/1141898595251740.xml&coll=1>
Federal officials tasked with making a controversial decision about the
Oneida Indian Nation's trust application stayed at the tribe's resort
when they visited the region earlier this year for public hearings on
the matter.
According to documents obtained by The Post-Standard under the Freedom
of Information Law, Bureau of Indian Affairs officials stayed two nights
at Turning Stone Resort and Casino in January and dined at the resort's
Pino Bianco Trattoria.
From the windows of their rooms in the nation's newly constructed Tower
hotel, the federal officials likely had a panoramic view of much of the
17,000 acres in Madison and Oneida counties that the tribe wants taken
into federal custody, which would remove it from local tax rolls and
jurisdiction.
<http://ads.nj.com/RealMedia/ads/click_nx.ads/www.nj.com/xml/story//n/ne\
mad/@storyad?x>
Their choice of accommodations has many grumbling about a conflict of
interest.
"It does not strike me as a neutral body," said Jim Brod, who co-owns
Dibble's Inn in Vernon. "I don't think it's reasonable for (the BIA) to
be making a decision that these people don't have to pay taxes."
Added Oneida County Attorney Randy Caldwell: "Although we understand
that the BIA is an advocacy group for Indian tribes, we are concerned
about the lodging arrangements and would have thought the BIA would have
been more sensitive to any appearance of impropriety."
But BIA officials don't see it that way.
"When we're in Indian country, we try to stay in places that are run by
Indian tribes," said Nedra Darling, speaking for the BIA. "It's the
people we serve. It's not a secret thing. We hope that other people do
this as well, promoting economic opportunities for those communities."
Staying at Indian-run establishments is part of the BIA's mission
statement to "promote economic opportunity" and "protect and improve the
trust assets of American Indians." The practice is bolstered by the Buy
Indian Act, a federal code that encourages Interior Department
employees, including BIA officials, to use Indian labor and products "so
far as may be practicable."
"We pay for our services there; we got nothing free," Darling said of
the Turning Stone stay. "We don't see it as a conflict. It wouldn't
influence our decision."
Oneida Indian Nation spokesman Mark Emery had no comment.
According to hotel receipts for three BIA officials, each paid $70 a
night a government rate for Tower hotel rooms that usually go for $109
to $185. Some officials stayed there again last week when they were in
town for public hearings on the Cayuga Indian Nation's trust application
and for an informational meeting in Utica for the Oneidas' case. The BIA
is expected to make a decision on the Oneidas' trust application by the
end of the year.
Mark Metzger, owner of Gallopin' Acres Motel on Route 5 in Vernon,
wasn't surprised federal officials stayed at the casino.
"They have the best accommodations," he said. "But it's just another way
of showing that the politicians are not taking a stand against this very
important issue."