Indian Gaming > Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe stirs gaming talk

May 4, 2007

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe stirs gaming talk

Residents of Middleborough, Massachusetts, appear to be receptive to a casino being considered by the Mashpee Wampanaog Tribe.

The tribe's backer recently purchased 125 acres in the town and has optioned 200 more acres. Chairman Glenn Marshall told the Associated Press the tribe also wants the adjacent 22,000-acre Massachusetts Military Reservation.

"I want that 100 percent," Marshall told the AP. "Our lands were taken illegally by the commonwealth and the federal government. Parts of that base were taken from us."

Resident Carol Lucas said the tribe would be returning home if it built a casino in the town. "This is a good place for the tribe to come back to," she told The Boston Globe.

John Rea said he's "all for helping the Indians" but said it has to be "done right." Mike Couto said: "Let it happen. It would be a lot closer to get to than Foxwoods."

On Monday, town leaders established a committee to negotiate an agreement with the tribe.

Get the Story:
Casino proposal is talk of the town (The Boston Globe 5/4)
Tribe eyes '100 percent' of Cape base land (AP 5/4)