First, we need at least six months to review the Indian land claim case, including all fee to trust applications to be put on hold. I believe the present rush is so the Cayuga can get a fee to trust, first.

A negotiated settlement is useless. For this has been tried for more than 25 years and has accomplished nothing. The Cayuga have stated that they will only obey a Federal Court decision. Let the Cayuga be so honored with that decision. The Cayuga case and the Sherrill case are definite proof that only the Federal Court is final.

To those who say we cannot beat the BIA is to admit defeat. In the Connecticut Pequot land claim, the towns sued the BIA for 82 acres illegally taken by the BIA, and won. Already three groups have said that they will sue the Department of Interior if this proposal is passed. This is not final.

A serious error has been made by James Cason of the Department of Interior. He erroneously stated that the Cayuga haven't any reservation in New York state. The Cayuga have a reservation purchased from the Seneca more than 100 years ago. It is part of the Cattaraugus reservation. The Cayuga have a reservation in New York.

In the Grand Island case, a federal judge, Richard Acara stated that New York was not the homeland of all the Iroquois of which the Cayuga were a part and so reported in the Buffalo News. Also, it has been stated by Iroquois historian, Eli Parker, that New York state was not the original homeland of the Cayuga. New York state is not the Cayuga's homeland.

The Cayuga have rewritten history to what they wish it was; some call it lying.

Cason has been listening to only one side of the story or he should have known the Cayuga have a reservation in New York. We now have the correct documented history due to the efforts of an expert witness, Dr. von Gernet and others, so on to the federal courts.

Harry Pettingill Jr.

Seneca Falls