White Earth Band fights for casino trust status

Tuesday, July 15, 2008  

The White Earth Band of Ojibwe hopes a dispute over the trust status of its casino will turn out in the tribe's favor.

The tribe bought the land for the Shooting Star Casino with funds authorized by an act of Congress.The Bureau of Indian Affairs agreed to place the site in trust, a decision upheld by the Interior Department's Board of Indian Appeals.

Mahnomen County has been taxing the property over the tribe's objections. The tribe is in federal court to prevent future taxation and to obtain a refund for 12 years of taxation.

The tribe says the White Earth Land Settlement Act protects its land purchases.

Get the Story:
White Earth: Shooting Star Casino closer to trust status (The Crookston Daily Times 7/14)