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TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2002

The state of Louisiana has approved a gaming compact with the Jena Band of Choctaw Indians, the Associated Press reports today.

The compact is conditional on the Bureau of Indian Affairs taking land into trust for the tribe, the AP reports. The tribe, recognized in 1995, is currently landless.

Patrick Martin, an attorney for Gov. Mike Foster, told the AP the tribe has found land in Parish County but wouldn't confirm where. Of the tribe's historic land base, Martin told the AP that the tribe "can go anywhere Washington [D.C] lets them go."

The casino would be the fourth tribally-owned facility in the state if all goes through.