Sault Tribe seeks clarification on status of Detroit casino site

Friday, June 11, 2010  

Resolution of the bankruptcy case of the Greektown Casino Hotel in Detroit, Michigan, could require an act of Congress, according to Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Michigan) and the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians.

The tribe is a majority owner in the casino, which operates as a commercial facility under Michigan law. However, part of the facility is built in trust land -- 0.76 acres that were acquired in 1992.

As a result, Stupak and the tribe say only Congress can address the status of the land. Stupak wants the Justice Department and the Interior Department to investigate the issue before the bankruptcy case moves forward.

"As part of the reorganization, the tribe stands to lose its entire investment in the business, including a portion of the real property underlying the casino," Stupak wrote in the letter.

The tribe supports the investigation. "We feel the only way that land can be conveyed to another owner is by an act of Congress. We are exploring all of our legal options and rights to protect tribal assets and our status as a sovereign,” Chairman Joe McCoy said in a statement.

Get the Story:
Rep. Stupak questions whether tribe can legally lose stake in Greektown Casino (Crains Detroit 6/10)
Stupak seeks federal input on transfer of casino site (The Detroit Free Press 6/11)
Stupak seeks casino probe (The Detroit News 6/11)