The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma outlined its strategy for fighting a decision that allows the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians to keep its casino open.

The Cherokees will ask the Interior Board of Indian Appeals to overturn the Bureau of Indian Affairs, attorney general Todd Hembree told The Tulsa World. If that doesn't work, the tribe will go to federal court "and ultimately to the Supreme Court, if necessary," he said.

The BIA on Monday agreed to place the two-acre site of the Keetoowah Cherokee Casino in trust. The land is in Tahlequah, within the former Cherokee Reservation.

The Cherokees claim they are the only tribe that can exercise jurisdiction within the former reservation.

Get the Story:
Next step in Cherokees' fight against casino is Interior Board of Indian Appeals (The Tulsa World 8/2)
UKB casino allowed to stay open (The Cherokee One Feather 8/2)

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Cherokee Nation disputes United Keetoowah Band casino ruling (8/1)