Spokane Tribe gathering support for off-reservation casino

Tuesday, May 3, 2011  

The Spokane Tribe of Washington is announcing a group to support its off-reservation casino bid.

Jamie SiJohn, the tribe’s public relations director, said more than 200 people are part of the group. The co-chairs are former Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager and Todd Ekstrom, the manager of a local bank.

The tribe's group will counter the Citizens Against Casino Expansion, a coalition of business owners that says the casino is bad for Airway Heights.

The tribe already submitted a land-into-trust application to the Bureau of Indian Affairs and is proceeding under the two-part determination section of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The casino will need federal and state approval.

In the history of IGRA, only three tribes have opened casinos under the two-part determination section. One is located in Airway Heights -- owned by the Kalispel Tribe.

Get the Story:
Casino backers to unveil more about proposal (The Spokesman Review 5/3)

Related Stories:
Group's web site criticizes Spokane off-reservation casino (4/22)
Letter: Objections to Spokane Tribe off-reservation casino (4/21)
Spokane Chair: Off-reservation casino a step forward for region (4/4)
Business coalition opposes Spokane Tribe off-reservation casino (3/15)
Spokane Tribe waits for answer from BIA on off-reservation casino (2/4)