Gaming is focus of Senate land-into-trust hearing

Thursday, May 19, 2005  

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held an oversight hearing on "taking lands into trust" but major focus was how gaming has influenced the process.

Sen. John McCain (R-Arizona), the chairman of the committee, said he called the hearing to address confusion and controversy over off-reservation gaming proposals. He also said tribes are attempting to use exceptions in the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to open casinos "far from Indian reservations, sometimes in other states."

Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the vice chairman, and Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), the former vice chairman, tried to draw attention away from gaming. They noted that more land is going out of trust in certain parts of Indian Country than is going into trust but McCain later sought to clarify that this is occurring for individual Indians and not tribes.

George Skibine, the acting deputy assistant secretary for policy and economic development, focused his testimony [PDF] entirely on gaming-related acquisitions. Despite controversy over off-reservation gaming proposals, he said the process takes time and does not always favor tribal interests.

David Sprague, the chairman of the Match-e-be-nash-she-wish Band of Pottawatomi from Michigan, testified [PDF] about his tribe's lengthy efforts to obtain an initial reservation. After several delays and court battles, the tribe is finally moving forward with plans for a casino on the land. The tribe was recognized in August 1999 through the Bureau of Indian Affairs process.

Tim Martin, the executive director of the United South and Eastern Tribes, criticized attempts by tribes to seek casinos in other states in his testimony. [PDF] He said USET opposes this kind of reservation shopping but does not necessarily oppose tribes seeking off-reservation casinos within state lines.

Mike Jandernoa of the Michigan gaming opposition group 23 Is Enough called for a moratorium on all new casino development. He testified [PDF] that tribal gaming in the state has done more harm than good.

In his testimony [PDF], musician David Crosby said he feels "helpless" and "powerless" in his fight against the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians. He is opposing the tribe's request to acquire land for a cultural center, saying it will set a precedent for the tribe to acquire more land for gaming.

Get the Story:
Overhaul for casino regulations promised (The Oklahoman 5/19)
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Casino groups speak to Congress (The Grand Rapids Press 5/19)
David Crosby testifies against Indian gambling before Senate (AP 5/19)