BIA will acquire off-reservation parcel for Tohono O'odham Nation

Monday, July 26, 2010  

The Bureau of Indian Affairs on Friday agreed to acquire an off-reservation parcel for the Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona but Assistant Secretary Larry Echo Hawk said the decision does not address the tribe's plans for a casino.

The tribe purchased a total of 134.88 acres with funds that were provided by an act of Congress. As a result, Echo Hawk said the acquisition of the land was "mandatory."

The decision, however, was limited to a 53.54-acre parcel. The tribe modified its original land-into-trust application to address a state court decision that affected other portions of the site.

Echo Hawk also said the BIA has not determined whether the parcel can be used for gaming. The tribe withdrew its request for an Indian lands opinion amid significant political opposition to the casino.

But the tribe intends to move forward with the process. "The Nation believes that this puts us a step closer to the realization of an economic development project that is vital to the well-being of the Nation and that will make thousands of desperately needed jobs available to our neighbors," Chairman Ned Norris Jr., said in a statement, The Arizona Republic reported.

The tribe acquired the site in 2003. Generally, the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act bars gaming on land acquired after 1988.

However, the law provides an exception for land acquired in connection with a land claim settlement. The tribe has previously said the site qualifies for the exception.

In the history of IGRA, only two tribes have opened casinos on land acquired through a land claim settlement.

Get the Story:
Tribe seeking to build casino clears 1st hurdle (The Arizona Republic 7/24)
Federal decision moves forward $500M casino plan west of Phoenix (The Phoenix Business Journal 7/23)
Tribe overcomes key hurdle for Glendale casino (Capitol Media Services 7/23)
Tohono O'odham Nation's West Valley Land Closer to Becoming Part of the Tribe's Reservation, Feds Decide (The Phoenix New Times 7/23)

Relevant Documents:
Larry Echo Hawk Letter to Tohono O'odham Nation (July 23, 2010)

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