"Chairman James Steele of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes on Friday questioned a mass mailing by Gov. Brian Schweitzer about failed negotiations over the Class III gambling compact on the Flathead Reservation.

The letter began arriving in reservation mailboxes this week, even though the tribal-state compact expired two months ago on Nov. 30.

'It seems we were past an issue and then this letter comes out,' Steele said. 'It's not appropriate and it's not appreciated. The Salish, Kootenai and Pend d'Oreille have moved on and past Class III gambling.'

Steele said the tribes are now focused on Class II gambling operations, which don't require a state gambling compact. Class II games allow players across the country to compete simultaneously for bingo jackpots, sometimes amounting to millions of dollars."

The issue at hand centers on the Nov. 30 expiration of a 5-year-old gaming compact between the CSKT and the state. Class III gaming on the reservation became a federal offense after the state and tribal compact expired."

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Jodi Rave: Chairman objects to Schweitzer gaming letter (The Missoulian 2/3)