N.Y. Indian Law § 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.