"I would like to comment on news stories that were reported in the Riverton Ranger as it pertains to the Shoshone and Arapaho tribes and the controversy that it has caused within our communities: "Little Wind Casino causes big tribal fuss," and "Shoshones say casino operating illegally on joint land," and "Gaming agency warns tribe on gaming."

Now who opened the door for the Shoshone tribe to enjoy the benefits of class III gaming? I can remember hearing back in the late 1990s that the Shoshone tribe didn't want nothing to do with any kind of casino gaming and that they would not support the Arapaho in taking the state of Wyoming to task.

All of this could have been avoided if the Arapaho Business Council had open dialogue with the Shoshone tribe and shared this information with the Arapaho people through regularly mandated meetings, informing the Arapaho people about their plans of building another casino, a hotel, a clothing store in the half empty casino at Ethete, awarding a 7-year contract to the CEO and other important tribal business.

The tribes should be meeting in "Joint Business Council" rather than assuming a "you do what you want in your community and we do what we want in our community" mentality that has put our gaming enterprise under the watchful eye of the National Indian Gaming Regulatory Agency."

Get the Story:
Eugene J. Ridgely Jr: Tribal infighting complicates results (The Casper Star-Tribune 11/13)