Opinion: Choctaw casino in hands of new chief

Monday, July 9, 2007  

"The election of a new chief of the Choctaw Tribe has brought to light some facts the people of Jackson County need to fully understand. Chief Martin, whom everyone believed spoke for the entire tribe, said it would be "up to the voters of Jackson County to decide if they put a casino on their land on Highway 57."

Now, Beasley Denton, the newly elected chief, says it will not be the citizens of Jackson County who make this decision but it will be a "Choctaw decision."

This clearly points out that any and all agreements between the Choctaws and anyone else is non-binding and subject to change.

We, the people of Jackson County, will have no legal rights in any issues with the Choctaw Tribe. If a citizen has a legal dispute on tribal lands; if a citizen has a dispute over a payout in a tribal casino; if a citizen, including a vendor, is owed money by the Choctaws, the matter is not under the protection of our courts but will be at the sole discretion of the Choctaw Tribal Court. Our sheriff, our courts, our laws are worthless even if you are attacked on tribal land.

Please understand this: A reservation is a foreign nation. They pay no sales tax, no property tax, and are not bound by any of our laws. What happens on this land just as well be happening in another country."

Get the Story:
Eleanor Cissy Jordan: Choctaw election should be of interest to Jackson County (The Mississippi Press 7/8)