Wyoming governor talks gaming with tribes

Monday, December 5, 2005  

Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal (D) met with leaders of the Northern Arapaho Tribe and the Eastern Shoshone Tribe on Friday.

Freudenthal sought to smooth relations with Arapaho leaders, who have been upset with the state's handling of the tribe's gaming rights. The most recent incident involved a letter Freudenthal sent to Interior Secretary Gale Norton, suggesting the tribe make a $900,000 payment to the state.

The tribe explained that the payment would be made only if the state played a role in the regulation of gaming on the reservation. But since the state was found by a court to be in bad faith, the tribe has a compact with the Interior Department to offer the full gamut of Class III games.

Freudenthal later met with Shoshone leaders to negotiate a gaming compact. He wants the compact to mirror the provisions of the Arapaho's agreement with Interior.

Get the Story:
Governor makes up with Arapaho (The Jackson Hole Star-Tribune 12/3)