Tohono O'odham Nation awaits decision on off-reservation casino

Monday, March 14, 2011  

The Tohono O'odham Nation of Arizona is waiting on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place 54 acres in trust for an off-reservation casino.

But when exactly will that happen? The Arizona Republic asked two Indian law experts and the short answer was that no one knows for sure, due to pending litigation.

"There is expectation right now they will be waiting for the litigation to settle before that happens," Carl Artman, who led the BIA towards the end of the Bush administration, told The Arizona Republic. "But again, who knows what the department could do?"

Heidi McNeil Staudenmaier, who chairs the State Bar of Arizona's Indian Law Section, said the interior Department might wait until the lawsuits are resolved. But she said there is nothing stopping the Obama administration from taking action.

"I would assume they probably will be monitoring to see if there is further litigation or appeals or other litigation challenges before taking the final step that would actually consummate the land into trust process," McNeil Staudenmaier told the paper.

Get the Story:
Tohono O'odham plans for casino bear Glendale anything but typical (The Arizona Republic 3/11)

District Court Decision:
Gila River Indian Community v. DOI (March 3, 2011)

Related Stories:
Editorial: Ruling on off-reservation casino ignores consequences (3/7)
Judge rejects lawsuit on Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (3/4)
Another tribe opposes Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/24)
Tribal gaming group remains neutral in off-reservation debate (2/23)
Judge vows ruling on Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/18)
Judge hears suit over Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/17)
New angle in feud over Tohono O'odham off reservation casino (2/16)
Another suit filed over Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino (2/15)
Tohono O'odham Nation sues Arizona over land annexation law (2/11)
Judge sets hearing in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/10)
Editorial: State unfair in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (2/7)
Tohono O'odham Nation pushes for ruling on off-reservation casino (2/3)
Arizona governor signs Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bill (2/2)
Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bill being sent to governor (1/27)
Bill against Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino passes (1/26)
Lawmakers take up Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bills (1/25)
Lawmakers target Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino (1/21)
Hearing set in Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino suit (1/20)
Blog: No fairness in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino plan (1/19)
Tohono O'odham Nation updates plans for off-reservation casino (1/13)