Town questions Mashpee Wampanoag casino

Monday, July 20, 2009  

A Massachusetts town says the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe has no connection to its proposed casino site.

The town of Halifax hired researcher James Lynch to look into the tribe's land-into-trust application. In a report, Lynch says the tribe has no "historical or cultural connections" to the town of Middleboro, where the casino would be located.

The report says the Mashpees don't meet the requirements of the Section 20 regulations that were finalized during the Bush administration. As a newly recognized tribe, the Mashpees have to demonstrate "significant historical connections" and "modern connections" to the proposed gaming site

Lynch has been hired by other communities to dispute tribal land claims and federal recognition petitions.

Get the Story:
Wampanoag casino foes fed ammunition (The Cape Cod Times 7/18)