Davidson, Shoshana2024-03-072024-03-072023-12-19https://hdl.handle.net/1813/114330This research examines the unique case of Salamanca, the only U.S municipality situated within a federally recognized Native American Territory, Seneca Nation of Indian's Allegany Territory. In the 1990s, Salamanca faced the expiration of a restrictive 99-year lease imposed on the Seneca Nation by the U.S. Congress in 1892, locking the them into minimal rent payments. Renegotiations led to a new 40-year lease featuring fair market value payments and a $60 million compensation from federal and state governments. This study seeks to understand the post-restoration dynamics, exploring the city's decline from its heyday to current socio-economic struggles. By examining the historical relationship between the Seneca Nation and their land, the research aims to elucidate the complexities of land governance in Salamanca, navigating both traditional Indigenous and Western perspectives. Finally, this paper argues that property is not merely a legal concept but a socio-cultural construct linked to identity and power.enCC0 1.0 Universalindigenous land rightsproperty theoryproperty rightsland tenureSeneca NationSalamancareport