Y 4. In2 /11:5. hrg. 49-688 S. HRG. 99-688 INDIAN LAND CLAIMS IN THE CIS RECORD ONLY: HEARING BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS NINETY-NINTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION ON S. 1452 TO SETTLE INDIAN LAND CLAIMS IN THE TOWN OF GAY HEAD, MA, For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Sales Office SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS MARK ANDREWS, North Dakota, Chairman BARRY GOLDWATER, Arizona JOHN MELCHER, Montana QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota PETER S. TAYLOR, Staff Director (II) CONTENTS Gentry, Beatrice, first chairperson, Gay Head Wampanoag Tribal Council Malkin, Hannah L., president, Gay Head Taxpayers Association.. Manning, Helen V., Gay Head Indian public school teacher (retired) Osceola, Curtis, executive director, United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., Sockbeson, Henry J., counsel with the Native American Rights Fund. Vanderhoop, David, selectman, Gay Head Board of Selectmen... APPENDIX 114 Francis, Rosalie, with letter from Terry Watkin, M.D 220 Gentry, Barbara, director, Indian Education Program, University of Wyo- 228 Hahn, Robert C., counsel, James group, Gay Head Tribe. .104, 109 Madison, Jeffery L., selectman, board of selectmen, Gay Head, MA Madison, Luther T., tribal medicine man, Gay Head Tribe Malkin, Hannah L., president, Gay Head Taxpayers Association.. Manning, Helen V., Gay Head Indian public school teacher (retired) Osceola, Curtis, executive director, United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc., 146 Prepared statements of-Continued Quarles, James L., III, counsel for Gay Head Taxpayers Association Widdiss, Gladys, president, Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc.. Insertions for the record: Robinson, Bertha, letter to Select Committee on Indian Affairs. Page 148 124 169 89 168 237 236 INDIAN LAND CLAIMS IN THE TOWN OF GAY HEAD. MA WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1986 U.S. SENATE, SELECT COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS, Washington, DC. The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 2:18 p.m., in room 538, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Mark Andrews (chairman of the committee) presiding. Present: Senators Andrews, Gorton, and Murkowski. Staff present: Peter S. Taylor, staff director; Debbie Storey, professional staff member; Michael Mahsetky, staff attorney; Ginny Boylan, staff attorney; Phyllis Thompson, professional staff member; Sheila Rogan, professional staff member; Irene Herder, staff secretary; Mary Jo Vrem, legislative assistant; and Ipo Lung, professional staff member. Mr. ANDREWs. The committee will come to order. The hearing this afternoon is on S. 1452, a bill to settle Indian land claims in the town of Gay Head, MA, on Martha's Vineyard. This legislation would resolve a land claim filed in Federal court in 1974 by the Gay Head Wampanoag Tribe for title to 238 acres of common land presently held by the town of Gay Head. While this claim is limited to the common lands within the town, the effect of the claim is to cast a cloud on title to other privately owned lands within the town. The legislation before us today incorporates a joint memorandum of understanding that was signed by the Wampanoag Tribal Council of Gay Head, Inc., the town of Gay Head, the Taxpayers Association of Gay Head, Inc., and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in November 1983. It is my understanding that the Department of the Interior did not participate in the negotiations that led to this agreement. The agreement calls for the transfer of 238 acres of common land now held by the town, an acquisition of three parcels of land of the former Strock estate, comprising about 175 acres to be held as settlement lands and 11 acres currently in private ownership. In addition, the town agrees to transfer a parcel of land, known as the Cook lands, to the tribe. S. 1452 would authorize the appropriation of $3 million for establishment of settlement funds to carry out the terms of this act. However, it is my understanding that the State of Massachusetts may contribute 50 percent of these funds. [The text of S. 1452 follows:] (1) |