An intra-tribal disagreement within the Cayuga Nation came to a head two weeks ago, when traditionalists say their homes and buildings were demolished. 

Over the weekend, the two factions clashed again when a fight broke out. Now, in an exclusive interview, the legal representative of the Clint Halftown faction tells Spectrum News, everything we knew previously is a lie.

Representation from the Clint Halftown Faction say Saturday’s clash between traditionalists and the Halftown Council’s police was planned and the conference was staged. 

"Absolutely they were intentional. You don’t have people traveling from Canada a couple hundred miles to the Cayuga nation; coming to the nation reservation without having it planned. They coached it, they suggested it was going to be a meeting but really was, was a riot," said the Federally recognized Cayuga Nation Council's legal representative Lee Alcott. 

Questions of leadership and ownership have long been debated in the Cayuga nation. 

"He has no authority within traditional nation authority. He has five members who have not been properly nominated," said General Council for Onondaga Joseph Heath.

The Halftown Council says there should be no questions about leadership because members of the nation voted Halftown in, in a process called the statement of support.

"It was established by the Cayuga Nation people. With over 62% of the nation citizens voting in favor of the council lead by Federal representative Halftown. That process was then recognized by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, it's been recognized by the Department of the Interior," said Alcott. 

They say there should be no question of property either because it was acquired legally and reclaimed peacefully.

"They were purchased in the name of the Cayuga nation. They were not purchased by any one individual, no guns drawn on anyone. That did not happen there were no guns drawn by the Cayuga nation police on anyone at any time. There were no houses involved, at all these were all commercial properties. Most of the properties were unattended," said Alcott. 

While both sides calls the other terrorists, thugs and traitors. Both agree they want peace.  For now, they disagree on what that peace looks like.