The Cayuga Nation of New York faces sanctions from the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs for failing to file its annual audit report on federal government funding.
Federal money paid to the Cayugas now will be issued monthly instead of a typical annual sum until an audit report is filed. The report is required within nine months of the end of the tribe's fiscal year. The tribe failed to file its audit report for fiscal year 2004, which ended Sept. 30, 2004.
“The nation has in the past and will continue to comply with its auditing requirements,” said Dan French, the attorney representing Clint Halftown, the tribe's federally recognized representative.
French said the Cayugas missed the audit deadline because its western New York tribal offices have been locked following a leadership dispute earlier this spring. Without access to the tribe's offices, the Cayugas did not have access to the materials needed to comply with the audit, he said.
While the audit report has not been submitted yet, they have been able to gather enough materials to complete the audit and will submit it shortly, French said. Halftown opened new offices in North Collins, Erie County, about two months ago.
A spokeswoman for the BIA, Nedra Darling, said it is common for tribal leadership disputes to affect the filing of audit reports, but tribes are typically responsive to completing delayed audits.
Joseph Heath, an attorney for the traditional Cayugas, including the condoled chiefs, Bear Clan member Sam George and Heron Clan member William “Chuck” Jacobs, said news of the sanction concerned his clients because they do not receive any portion of the federal government's allotment and worried the money is being misused.
“I know when you take a federal nickel you have to be very careful with it,” Heath said. “The lack of information and then the receipt of this letter (about the sanctions) certainly caused my clients pause.”
“If my clients (who are on the council) don't know exactly what is made, how is the average Cayuga citizen supposed to know?” Heath added.
Halftown, his mother, Sharon Leroy, and Anita Thompson have drawn substantial salaries from the federal allotment, while other tribal members do not receive any portion of the allotment, Heath said.
Other sanctions the tribe could face if the audit reports are not submitted include suspension or termination of the federal allotment.
The Cayuga Nation's leadership has experienced fluxes over the last year. Conflicts arose over whether the tribe was withdrawing from its now-dead proposed land claim settlement and its casino development deal with Empire Resorts and whether an effort to establish a new elected government was valid or not.
In August, the tribe compromised over its leadership dispute by selecting one set of attorneys for the Aurelius and Union Springs litigation and any new litigation involving the tribe.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
“The nation has in the past and will continue to comply with its auditing requirements,” said Dan French, the attorney representing Clint Halftown, the tribe's federally recognized representative.
French said the Cayugas missed the audit deadline because its western New York tribal offices have been locked following a leadership dispute earlier this spring. Without access to the tribe's offices, the Cayugas did not have access to the materials needed to comply with the audit, he said.
While the audit report has not been submitted yet, they have been able to gather enough materials to complete the audit and will submit it shortly, French said. Halftown opened new offices in North Collins, Erie County, about two months ago.
A spokeswoman for the BIA, Nedra Darling, said it is common for tribal leadership disputes to affect the filing of audit reports, but tribes are typically responsive to completing delayed audits.
Joseph Heath, an attorney for the traditional Cayugas, including the condoled chiefs, Bear Clan member Sam George and Heron Clan member William “Chuck” Jacobs, said news of the sanction concerned his clients because they do not receive any portion of the federal government's allotment and worried the money is being misused.
“I know when you take a federal nickel you have to be very careful with it,” Heath said. “The lack of information and then the receipt of this letter (about the sanctions) certainly caused my clients pause.”
“If my clients (who are on the council) don't know exactly what is made, how is the average Cayuga citizen supposed to know?” Heath added.
Halftown, his mother, Sharon Leroy, and Anita Thompson have drawn substantial salaries from the federal allotment, while other tribal members do not receive any portion of the allotment, Heath said.
Other sanctions the tribe could face if the audit reports are not submitted include suspension or termination of the federal allotment.
The Cayuga Nation's leadership has experienced fluxes over the last year. Conflicts arose over whether the tribe was withdrawing from its now-dead proposed land claim settlement and its casino development deal with Empire Resorts and whether an effort to establish a new elected government was valid or not.
In August, the tribe compromised over its leadership dispute by selecting one set of attorneys for the Aurelius and Union Springs litigation and any new litigation involving the tribe.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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