Conference defends, attacks Indian sovereignty
June 28, 2002

By R. PATRICK CORBETT
Observer-Dispatch

UTICA — For an issue that has such universal impact, Indian sovereignty managed to avoid a universal definition Thursday at a conference sponsored by the New York State Association of Counties.

Association Native American Affairs Committee Chair and Oneida County Executive Ralph J. Eannace Jr. welcomed about 100 guests and speakers to the two-day gathering at the Hotel Utica. He said the Oneida Indian Nation was invited to participate but declined.

Nation spokesman Mark Emery said Oneida Nation Representative Raymond Halbritter had a prior commitment. He also called the event “a conference against sovereignty.”

In fact, sovereignty was defended as often as it was attacked by the first day’s speakers:

* Ledyard, Conn., Mayor Wesley J. Johnson Sr. said area governments there have spent more than $1.3 million defending against a land claim by the Mashantucket Pequot Indians, founders of Foxwoods Casino. He said the casino created a “wealth of jobs” for his community, but on the whole “the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.”

* Ervin Lent, the first American Indian to be elected as an Inyo County, Calif., supervisor, also said there have been a number of legal disputes between the community and the Bishop Paiute Tribe over its casino and sovereignty issues. But Lent added, “I see more advantages than disadvantages” from Indian gaming, often the source of Indian disputes.

* Cattaraugus County Legislature Chairman Gerard Fitzpatrick said his county is looking forward to economic benefits that would follow the opening of Seneca Indian Nation casinos in western New York. He said his experience has been, “The way to get along is to talk to them and work with them” rather than drag every question into court. He said his preferred alternative “takes a lot of patience,” though.

* Madison County Board of Supervisors Chairman Rocco DiVeronica said Indian sovereignty has created divisions in the county that didn’t exist when the county was the only government serving its people. He said untaxed Indian convenience stores have forced non-Indian stores out of business, costing his constituents millions of dollars in potential and lost revenues in recent years.

* NYSAC President Jean Raymond of Saratoga County said the conference was not organized to settle the many questions of sovereignty. She said the members of the association respect Indian sovereignty and are looking for ways that it can benefit their taxpayers as well as Indian nations. “There’s a lot of misunderstandings,” she said. “We’re providing the opportunity to learn about issues that affect so many counties.”

Participants and speakers Thursday touched on issues of Indian casinos, taxation, economic development, environmental protection and ongoing court cases related to sovereignty. The conference concludes this morning with U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs and Department of Justice representatives addressing questions of federal responsibility to Indians and police enforcement on Indian land, Raymond said.

Indian sovereignty issues also will be aired next month at the National Association of Counties convention in New Orleans, Eannace said.