The Cachil Dehe Band of Wintun Indians, also known as the
Colusa Indian Community, filed a lawsuit in federal court on Friday in hopes of stopping the
Enterprise Rancheria from opening an off-reservation casino.
The Cachil Dehe Band believes the proposed facility will draw patrons from the
Colusa Casino.
The complaint cites a loss of revenue and even employees to the new development.
"Colusa's Casino revenues likely will decline by more than 40%," the complaint states.
"At least 30% of the Colusa Casino's existing employees are likely to leave the
Colusa Casino and seek work at the new Enterprise Casino."
The Cachil Dehe Band also said it was never consulted by the
Bureau of Indian Affairs during consideration of the Enterprise Rancheria project.
The Colusa Casino is about 39 miles from the proposed casino although the tribe says most of its patrons and employees live much closer.
"Because a significant percentage of the patrons and employees of Colusa's casino
reside in Marysville, Yuba City and other areas farther from Colusa than the planned Casino Site, operation of a casino on the planned Casino Site would attract and intercept a significant percentage of Colusa's existing patrons and employees, directly and severely adversely impacting Colusa, requiring defendants to treat Colusa as a 'nearby Indian tribe'" under the
Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act, the complaint states.
Get the Story:
Colusa Casino tribe sues to stop Enterprise Rancheria
(The Marysville-Yuba City Appeal-Democrat 12/17)
Relevant Documents:
Complaint: Cachil Dehe Band v. Salazar (December 14, 2012)
Federal Register Notice:
Land
Acquisitions; Enterprise Rancheria of Maidu Indians of California (December
3, 2012)
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