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Court orders BIA to review Wyandotte trust land
Friday, July 29, 2005

A federal judge this week ordered the Bureau of Indian Affairs to review, once again, its decision to acquire out-of-state land for the Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma.

In an 11-page ruling [PDF], U.S. District Judge Julie A. Robinson said the BIA has to consider whether the tribe purchased the property in downtown Kansas City, Kansas, with settlement funds that were authorized by Congress.

If the tribe purchased the property using the funds, then the BIA can acquire what is known as the Shriner Tract in trust. But if other money was used, the BIA can't accept the property.

The state of Kansas claims an Indian gaming company gave the Wyandottes $5,000 to help buy the land. Robinsin ordered the BIA to review the matter again in order to determine the trust status of the Shriner Tract.

The BIA previously acquired the land in trust but later said it couldn't be used for gaming. The Wyandotte Nation opened a Class II casino on the property anyway and it was later shut down by state officials.

Get the Story:
Tribe loses another round in casino fight (The Kansas City Star 7/29)
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Relevant Links:
Wyandotte Nation - http://www.wyandotte-nation.org

Related Stories:
Oklahoma tribe drops out-of-state land claim (08/17)
NIGC rules against Okla. tribe's casino in Kansas (03/26)
McCaleb affirms trust land decision (3/12)
Supreme Court refuses Wyandotte review (1/7)
Congress kills Wyandotte casino project (10/15)
Wyandotte company awarded $100M contract (8/17)
Battle over Kansas casino continues (2/28)

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