US Lawyer Database

For Lawyer-Seekers

YOU DESERVE THE BEST LAWYER

Home » US Law » 2022 New York Laws » Consolidated Laws » IND - Indian » Article 4 - The Seneca Indians » 56 – Trees and Timber on Reservations.
§  56.  Trees  and timber on reservations.  Except as provided by this
section, no person shall cut, remove, cause to be removed or  assist  in
removing  from  the  Allegany, Cattaraugus or Tonawanda reservations any
wood, trees or timber thereon, nor shall any Indian sell or  dispose  of
any  timber or trees on such reservations, or any manufacture therefrom;
and every such sale or disposition shall be void. Except as provided  in
this  section,  any  person who shall cut, remove or cause to be removed
from any such reservations, or any Indian who shall sell or  dispose  of
any  trees  or  timber  thereon,  or any manufacture therefrom, shall be
liable to a penalty of twice the value of such property, recoverable for
the benefit of the nation occupying the reservation. An Indian  residing
on  the Allegany or Cattaraugus reservation, may sell or dispose of, for
his own benefit, any trees or timber, or the manufacture thereof, on any
wild lands allotted to or entered by him; and, upon obtaining  a  permit
from the council, signed by the presiding officer and clerk thereof, may
manufacture  shingles  or  staves  from  any trees or timber on any wild
lands of the nation not allotted to or entered by any other Indian,  and
may  dispose of the same for his own benefit. Any member of the Allegany
or Cattaraugus reservation may sell logs from land  to  which  he  holds
title. The council of the Seneca nation may sell or dispose of any trees
or  timber on the wild lands of the Allegany or Cattaraugus reservation,
and the proceeds of such sale or disposition shall be for the benefit of
such nation.

(a) Any member of the Tonawanda nation may cut timber on any land on the Tonawanda reservation to which he holds title by allotment solely for the purposes of manufacture of shingles, lumber and boards for the construction, erection and repair of buildings which such member owns situate upon said reservation and for firewood for himself and his family, and, upon obtaining a written permit, from the council of chiefs of said nation, granted only by resolution thereof, signed by the presiding officer and clerk thereof, may cut timber only on such part of the common unallotted land of the Tonawanda reservation and in such quantity as shall be specifically designated by such council of chiefs by such resolution and described in said permit, solely for the purposes of manufacture of shingles, lumber and boards for the construction, erection and repair of buildings which such member owns situate upon such reservation, and for firewood for himself and his family. No person not a member of the Tonawanda nation shall be employed by any Indian in cutting any timber on the Tonawanda reservation.