CENSUS BACKTRACKS OVER SIZE OF ONEIDA NATION - REDRAWN MAP SHOWED LAND CLAIM AREA. MADISON COUNTY OFFICIALS OBJECTED.

Glenn Coin
The Post-Standard
February 4, 2011

As quickly as it swelled from 32 to 307,000 acres, the Oneida Indian reservation appears to be shrinking back down again -- at least, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer announced Thursday that the Census Bureau will put the reservation back to 32 acres until a batch of federal court suits are resolved. The bureau last fall redrew the map to move into nation land 307,000 acres of Madison, Oneida and Lewis counties.

"Reversing this decision was common sense," Schumer said in a statement.

For years, Census Bureau maps showed a 32-acre Oneida reservation in Madison County. The Oneidas last June asked the Census Bureau to instead draw the map to show the original reservation boundaries that encompass parts or all of at least 18 towns and three cities.

The Census Bureau asked for advice from the federal Department of Interior, which said the reservation created 200 years ago was never reduced and was indeed 307,000 acres. That follows the boundaries of the 36-year-old Oneida Indian land claim, which was tossed out of federal court last month.

Census geographers had drawn the new map in October, but Madison County officials just discovered it last month. They protested, and Schumer became involved.

A letter from an Interior official on Thursday to the Census Bureau noted that the bureau can't redraw a map if there is "any unresolved litigation" over the boundaries. The Oneida reservation boundaries are being contested in six lawsuits in federal court, the Interior letter noted.

The 307,000-acre reservation remained on the Census website as of Thursday. Census officials said in a statement they would begin work immediately to redraw the map by April 1. That's the date by which the bureau must provide maps to states for redistricting.