Wednesday, October 18, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Nation
Section B · Page 9
For comments, contact Lori O'Toole at 864-4810 or e-mail editor@kansan.com
Congress approves tribal land settlement
Santo Domingo Pueblos consider territory sacred, pledge not to build casinos
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Congress has approved giving a New Mexico Native-American tribe $23 million and about 4,600 acres to settle lawsuits concerning land the tribe claimed under a grant from the king of Spain more than 300 years ago.
The Santo Domingo Pueblo argued that it was the rightful owner of 52,000 acres of federal, state and private land near its reservation between Albuquerque and Santa Fe in northern New Mexico. The area included shrines and other religious sites, which are considered sacred by the 4,600-member tribe.
"I hope we have finally come to an end on this long, long discussion of the land deal."
The House approved the settlement on a voice
Benny Atencio
Santo Domingo Pueblo Tribe's secretary and spokesman
vote yesterday, sending it to the White House for President Clinton's signature. The Senate approved the deal earlier this month.
"I hope we have finally come to an end on this long, long, long discussion of the land deal," said Benny Atencio, the tribe's secretary and representative.
The deal, which does not require private landowners to sell or give their property to the tribe, also gives the tribe the option to use $3.7 million of the settlement money to buy 7,355 acres of
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National Forest Service land in the disputed area. That plot, and the 4,577 acres of Bureau of Land Management land the tribe will receive, will be used mainly for religious purposes, Atencio can
"We're glad that some of our land will be returned back to us, even though we will have to pay for it." Atencio said.
The Santo Domingo Pueblo will not build casinos on any of the land, Atencio said.
The Santo Domingo Pueblo's land claim stemmed from two transactions: a 1689 land grant from the king of Spain for the tribe's reservation and the tribe's 1748 purchase of a neighboring tract called the Diego Gallegos grant. Congress agreed to honor such land grants in 1858 in a law finalizing U.S. control of the Southwest after the war with Mexico.
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