The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of
Potawatomi Indians of Michigan, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, will open its first casino on February 11 but land-into-trust issues could affect future gaming plans.
The Bureau of Indian Affairs placed a 147-acre site in trust for the tribe in January 2009.
A few weeks later, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Carcieri
v. Salazar.
The decision restricts the land-into-trust process to tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction" in 1934. The Gun Lake Tribe didn't gain federal recognition until 1998, an issue that will be revived now that the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated a lawsuit against the BIA.
The Cowlitz Tribe of Washington is the target of a similar lawsuit. The BIA agreed to place 152 acres in trust for the tribe but local officials are going to sue over the 1934 issue.
The tribe gained federal recognition in 2000. The BIA addressed the 1934 issue in its record of decision on the land-into-trust application.
Get the Story:
Suit to Stop New Michigan Casino Can Forge Ahead
(Courthouse News Service 1/24)
DC Circuit Decision:
Patchak
v. Salazar (January 21, 2011)
Related Stories:
Gun Lake Tribe announces February 11
grand opening for casino (1/24)
Gun Lake
Tribe close to announcing grand opening for new casino (1/20)
Gun Lake Tribe hopes new casino will
improve lives for its people (1/14)
Gun Lake Tribe receives first shipment of
slot machines for casino (12/7)
Gun Lake Tribe cuts off applications for
most positions at casino (11/30)
More than 2000 file online applications for
Gun Lake casino jobs (10/26)
Gun
Lake Tribe plans to hire at least 700 people for first casino (10/14)
Casino Stalker | Litigation | Openings and Closings
Land-into-trust issues cloud gaming plans for at least two tribes
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Stay Connected
Contact Us
indianz@indianz.com202 630 8439 (THEZ)
Search
Top Indian Gaming Stories
Trending in Gaming
1 Catawba Nation continues work on controversial casino in North Carolina
2 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes move forward with casino expansion
3 Poarch Band of Creek Indians said to be on Trump's radar
4 Hopi Tribe officially joins Indian gaming industry with approved compact
5 Seminole Tribe paid just $50M for casino Donald Trump built for $1.2B
2 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes move forward with casino expansion
3 Poarch Band of Creek Indians said to be on Trump's radar
4 Hopi Tribe officially joins Indian gaming industry with approved compact
5 Seminole Tribe paid just $50M for casino Donald Trump built for $1.2B
More Stories
• Mashantucket Tribe distributes last group of per capita payments• Lawmakers take up Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bills
Indian Gaming Archive