"The stretch of Interstate-10 between Las Cruces and Deming is not what we would call picturesque. But while most zip past the restaurant and smoke shop near Akela and see a lonely building in the middle of nowhere, Jeff Haozous sees a future homeland for his people.

Haozous, formerly Jeff Houser, is chairman of the Fort Sill Apache tribe, which has been battling against both the state and federal governments for the past several years to open a casino on a 30-acre parcel just off the Akela exit of Interstate 10.

It has thus far been a losing battle. Electronic bingo machines have been hauled away. Poker games have been shut down. Gov. Bill Richardson even went so far as to threaten to use State Police to block access to the casino. Now, a restaurant and smoke shop are all that remain at the building.

But Haozous has not given up on his dream of returning the Fort Sill Apache, formerly the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apaches, to the land they once roamed before forced evictions, first to Florida, then to Oklahoma."

Get the Story:
Our View: Fort Sill Apache gaming proposal deserves a look (The Las Cruces Sun-News 11/20)

Related Stories:
Fort Sill Apache Tribe not giving up New Mexico casino plan (11/14)