Issues important to Native Americans must be addressed

Rochester/Chronicle Democrat

Among the throngs at last week's inauguration ceremony for Gov. Eliot Spitzer were leaders of New York's Native American tribes. Their presence was a fitting tribute to tribal contributions to the state's history.

Spitzer followed protocol embraced by former Gov. Mario Cuomo in inviting tribal leaders to the New Year's Day ceremony. But because Spitzer, as attorney general, had often battled the tribes in court, the gesture was particularly welcome.

A spokesman for the governor said Spitzer wanted to send the message of a new beginning.

Invited were leaders of the Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, St. Regis Mohawk, Tonawanda Band of Senecas, Tuscarora, Shinnecock and Poospatuck.

Peter Jemison of Victor, who is manager of Ganondagan, represented the Seneca Nation and said he was hopeful that the tribes could meet soon with Spitzer. There is, after all, much to discuss.

Still unresolved, for instance, are the heated issues of sovereignty on Native American reservations, where the exemption of all tobacco sales from the state sales tax is an issue. Too, there's the matter of land claims made by tribes and the operation of Native American gambling casinos.

Understandably, Spitzer is being inundated with requests for meetings from hundreds of groups. And the requests are likely to keep coming for months.

He must make meeting with Native American leaders a priority as he pushes forward his agenda for One New York.