Clint Halftown and the new federally recognized Cayuga Nation Council will not
Attorney Joseph Heath, who represents a group of Cayuga chiefs and clan mothers in opposition of Halftown and his council, said he filed paperwork last week in federal court in Washington D.C. challenging the Bureau of Indian Affairs's decision to recognize Halftown's council as the new leaders.
While the federal court has not issued a stay of the BIA's decision, Heath said he filed an order to show cause on Monday with the state Supreme Court in Seneca Falls. He hoped to delay state Supreme Court Justice Dennis F. Bender's earlier decision requiring the Seneca Falls properties be vacated by Tuesday, Sept. 26 and turned over to Halftown.
After a conference meeting with Bender Wednesday afternoon, an order to show cause with stay was granted. A hearing is scheduled at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 at the courthouse, 48 W. Williams St., Waterloo. Heath said for now the properties continue to be managed and occupied by the same Cayuga Nation members. He does not expect to hear back from the Washington D.C. court for a few weeks.
In a statement emailed to ÈËÊÞÐÔ½», Halftown's Cayuga Nation Council said, "The Nation looks forward to appearing before Judge Bender again, litigating this case to a conclusion and regaining rightful ownership of its properties."
as the nation's leaders in an attempt to end a more than decade-long dispute.
Staff writer Gwendolyn Craig can be reached at (315) 282-2237 or gwendolyn.craig@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter @gwendolynnn1.
