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JUNE 28, 2000

The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes started a media campaign in Washington DC to convince the Senate to declare Fort Reno in Oklahoma as surplus land. Don Nickles (R-Oklahoma) currently has language in a bill preventing the Department of Agriculture from ever declaring the land as surplus property.

If the land were declared surplus property, this would be the first step that would allow the tribes to take the land of Fort Reno back into trust.

Strangely, the tribes' chairman does not definitively know the source of money for the ads. But their bingo operation, Lucky Star Casino, appropriated a maximum of $60,000 for "community action" to recover Fort Reno.

Some speculate that this money will come from the Tribes' profit sharing agreement with the management of Lucky Star Casino. Currently the tribe receives 70% of the profits with the management company receiving 30%.

The tribes had Fort Reno taken away from them for use as a military fort in 1883, but the Fort was turned over to the Department of Agriculture in 1948. Senator Nickles and others claim that the tribe has already received compensation for the land, but the Interior Department claims that the Tribe has a valid argument.

The Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes have been involved in numerous controversies involving the reclaiming of Fort Reno including receiving money back from the Democratic National Committee.

Those in opposition to the tribe would like to see Fort Reno turned into a Military Museum of the Southwest.

The Interior Department is currently conducting an audit of the tribe, alleging mismanagement of federal funds.

Get the Story:
Tribes launch ad campaign for Fort Reno (The Oklahoman 6/28)

Related Story:
US audits Cheyenne-Arapaho (Tribal Law 06/08)