Wyandotte Nation seeks return of seized property

Tuesday, July 20, 2004  

The Wyandotte Nation of Oklahoma went to court on Monday to seek the return of property seized by the state of Kansas.

In April, state authorities raided the tribe's trust land in downtown Kansas City. A reported $500,000 in cash and 150 electronic gaming machines were taken.

States normally do not have jurisdiction on Indian land but Kansas attorney general Phill Kline says the raid was justified because the tribe did not have permission to open a gaming facility on the property.

In an unrelated case but still involving issues of sovereignty, the state of Kansas was previously ordered to return property it seized from the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. The state claimed the tribe and tribal employees owed $1.5 million in gas taxes but a federal court has blocked the state from collecting.

Get the Story:
Tribe offers deal in casino suit (The Kansas City Star 7/20)
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Tribe again seeks return of assets seized in raid on KCK casino (AP 7/19)