Unions seek investigation into rejection of Menominee casino

Thursday, June 17, 2010  

Two labor unions are calling on the federal government to investigate why the Menominee Nation off-reservation casino in Kenosha, Wisconsin, was rejected.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs rejected the tribe's land-into-trust application in the final days of the Bush administration. But the regional office of the BIA supported the casino and memos that supported the casino were kept from the tribe.

The documents, however, were given to the Forest County Potawatomi Tribe under a Freedom of Information Act request. The Potawatomis used the information to bolster their case against the Menominee casino.

The Menominee Nation is in federal court in hopes of overturning a Bush-era policy that led to the rejection.

Get the Story:
Unions call on feds to investigate Kenosha casino rejection (The Daily Reporter 6/16)

BIA Letter:
George Skibine to Menominee Nation (January 7, 2009)

Off-Reservation Gaming Policy:
Guidance on taking off-reservation land into trust for gaming purposes (January 3, 2008)

Related Stories:
Menominee Nation casino documents provided to rival tribe (6/10)