Salt River Tribe opposes Tohono O'odham Nation casino bid

Friday, May 27, 2011  

Another Arizona tribe is opposing the Tohono O'odham Nation off-reservation casino.

The Gila River Indian Community filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Indian Affairs to stop the casino. The Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community is also against the plan.

Salt River President Diane Enos told Gambling Compliance that her tribe's reservation once included the area where the Tohono O'odham Nation wants to build the casino. The Gila River Tribe also claims the land as aboriginal.

The Tohono O'odham Nation had a reservation in the area as well. Congress enacted the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act to compensate the tribe for a flooded reservation and to allow the tribe to select new lands.

Gila River, Salt River and Tohono O'odham are related tribes.

Get the Story:
Opposition of Planned Glendale Casino Linked to National Movement to Stop ‘Reservation Shopping’ (Indian Country Today 5/26)

Related Stories:
Foes of Tohono O'odham Nation casino gather signatures (5/24)
City votes to appeal ruling in Tohono O'odham casino case (5/11)
Tohono O'odham Nation casino on hold pending 9th Circuit (5/5)
Mixed rulings in Tohono O'odham off-reservation casino bid (5/4)