Artist's rendering of the proposed Kewadin Lansing Casino. Image from Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
The Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Michigan submitted land-into-trust applications for two off-reservation casino sites. The tribe is moving forward with the $245 million Kewadin Lansing Casino. The application had not been submitted due to litigation from the state of Michigan. However, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has issued its decision in Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community, it's likely that the state won't be able to sue the tribe for merely proposing the casino. The tribe has filed a motion to dismiss the case. The tribe also submitted an application for a site not far from Detroit. The tribe proposed a casino there in 2005. The tribe purchased both sites in connection with the Michigan Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. As such, the tribe believes the Bureau of Indian Affairs must place the land in trust. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act generally bars gaming on land acquired after 1988. But Section 20 of the law contains an exception for tribes with land claim settlements. Turtle Talk has posted documents from the litigation, Michigan v. Sault Tribe, and for the land-into-trust applications in Lansing and Huron Charter Township. Get the Story:
Sault tribe asks federal government to move forward on Lansing casino project (The Lansing State Journal 6/11)
2 new casinos? Soo tribe targets Lansing, SE Michigan for gambling operations (MLive 6/11)
Sault Tribe Files Land Application For Lansing Casino (WLNS 6/11)
Tribe plans gambling in Lansing, suburban Detroit (AP 6/11) Supreme Court Decision:
Michigan v. Bay Mills Indian Community (May 27, 2014) 6th Circuit Decision:
Michigan v. Sault Ste Marie Tribe (December 18, 2013) Related Stories:
Michigan plans to pursue Sault Tribe officials over gaming plan (6/6)
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