The Summit's goal is to establish a "framework agreement" on the major remaining issues delaying settlement of the Oneida's 250,000-acre land claim in New York state. According to the Wisconsin Oneidas , there is a window of opportunity for the groups to continue negotiations.

The land claim covers Madison and Oneida counties in central New York state. Settlement of the land claim, the Wisconsin Oneidas say, can positively benefit hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers and Oneidas and will lift the cloud over the future of many non-Oneida land owners in the claim area.

Negotiations over the largest Indian land claim in the United States began 13 months ago when Gov. Pataki named Syracuse attorney, Jan Farr as chief negotiator. A 1985 U.S. Supreme Court decision found that the New York, Wisconsin and Thames Oneidas are all successors in interest to the land their ancestors occupied in New York state.

The Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin's General Tribal Council ("GTC"), the ultimate governing body of the Tribe, voted on September 16, 1996 to begin acquiring land in New York state to advance stalled land claim negotiations.

Note to reporters: William Gollnick, director of Legislative Affairs for the Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin will be available today and Friday to comment on the proposed Summit. To speak with Mr. Gollnick or obtain background information about the Tribe or Oneida land claim, please call (414) 869-4033.