St. Regis Mohawk Tribe seeks approval in Catskills

Tuesday, November 8, 2005  

The St. Regis Mohawk Tribe asked New York Gov. George Pataki (R) to approve an off-reservation casino site in the Catskills.

Tribal leaders say the Bureau of Indian Affairs has already approved the site. So only Pataki's approval is needed now, they say.

More than four years ago, the BIA did agree to take the land into trust under a two-part determination that requires the governor's concurrence. But the tribe dropped its gaming partner and filed an application for another site.

The tribe has since gone back to the old partner and the old casino site, relying on BIA officials who reportedly said the approval for the old site is still valid. A September 9 letter from George Skibine, the director of BIA's Office of Indian Gaming Management, indicated that was the case.

But Sue Ellen Woodridge, the top Solicitor at the Interior Department, appeared to say otherwise in a subsequent letter, Ottaway News Service reported. The letter indicated the tribe would have to undergo another review for the old site.

Get the Story:
Mohawks push Pataki on casino deal (The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle 11/8)
Interior officials conflict on casino (Ottaway News Service 11/8)
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Mohawks rally for casino approval (The Albany Times-Union 11/8)