Stockbridge-Munsee Band accuses DOI of 'about-face' on casino

An off-reservation casino in New York was on its way to gaining approval before the Interior Department did an "about-face," according to the leader of the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin.

The tribe reached a Class III gaming compact and a land claim settlement with the state of New York last November. The federal government had been a part of the discussions so the tribe thought the casino in the Catskills was a sure bet.

But last month, the Obama administration signaled it would reject the deal. If that happens, the tribe will continue litigating its land claim.

“We’ll go back to fighting it out in the court system, which is an unfortunate consequence,” President Kimberly Vele told The New York Times.

Get the Story:
Tribe’s Plan for Catskill Casino, Backed by Paterson, Faces Rejection in Washington (The New York Times 2/9)
Luck fades for Catskills Indian casino (The Saratogian 2/8)

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