U.S. Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), chairman of the U.S. House Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs, won’t be introducing legislation to bring the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians’ Camp 4 land into fee-to-trust, Young’s spokesman confirmed.
“Congressman Young has not, and is not, introducing legislation regarding this issue,” press secretary Luke Miller told the Sun via e-mail. “Chairman Young’s committee periodically holds oversight hearings on land and natural-resource issues concerning tribes, and he would welcome the tribe and Santa Barbara County to participate in one if they are interested.”
The tribe has been seeking to place 1,400 acres it owns in the Santa Ynez Valley—known as Camp 4—in the fee-to-trust process, which would deed the property over to the federal government. In exchange, the government would recognize the land as a sovereign nation, exempt from state and local taxes.
Third District Supervisor Doreen Farr has opposed the Chumash proposal, saying it doesn’t fit the parameters of the fee-to-trust process and would result in “serious economic repercussions” for the county through the loss of property and sales tax revenue.
Chumash leaders contend the tribe needs the space, which it bought from Fess Parker in 2010, to build 143 single-family homes, and intends to add it to the existing Santa Ynez Reservation. In an e-mail to the Sun, tribal spokeswoman Nerissa Sugars said the tribe is “continuing the process of working toward fee-to-trust legislation.”
Young’s spokesman Miller said the congressman met with Chumash leaders regarding the topic, and after the discussion, consulted with Congressman Elton Gallegly (R-Simi Valley), and also considered Farr’s letter to him opposing the proposal.
This article appears in May 24-31, 2012.
