NIGC's Hogen not drawing up post-1934 tribes list

Wednesday, April 29, 2009  

The National Indian Gaming Commission is not compiling a list of tribes that were recognized after 1934, Chairman Phil Hogen said on Tuesday.

Hogen, a member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, of South Dakota, spoke of the need for such a list in an Indian Country Today story that was published online on Monday. But in a follow-up to Indianz.Com, he said the NIGC isn't leading the effort.

"While I and the NIGC are concerned about the potential fallout of the Carcieri decision, we are not assuming the primary responsibility for determining which tribes may or may not be affected by the decision," Hogen said. "We are certainly not drawing up any lists to that effect."

The U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar limits the land-into-trust process to tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. Coming up with a list of affected tribes "might be helpful," Hogen acknowledged.

Citing his response to the decision and his stance on other issues, the National Indian Gaming Association is calling for Hogen, a Bush nominee, to resign.