The red box on this aerial map shows the approximate location of the new Cherokee Nation casino. Image from Google Maps
The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma is leasing a restricted Indian allotment for its newest gaming facility. The allotment is located on the outskirts of South Coffeyville, just one mile south of the Kansas border. The site is more than 110 miles from tribal headquarters in Tahlequah and more than 66 miles from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino near Tulsa. Other tribes in the state have tried to open casinos on Indian allotments. The Kialegee Tribal Town remains in court over plans for a gaming facility near Tulsa. The Miami Nation tried to cross state lines for a casino on an Indian allotment in Kansas. The National Indian Gaming Commission repeatedly shot down the plan, saying the tribe lacked jurisdiction over the site [See 6 Indian Land Opinions]. The Cherokee Nation situation appears to be different. The allotment is within the tribe's 14-county jurisdictional area and is owned by a Cherokee family, The Cherokee Phoenix reported. As a result, the tribe did not have to follow the land-into-trust process. And the tribe won't need to secure local or state approval to use the allotment for the casino. The tribe did sign a lease with the Cherokee family but it's wasn't reported whether it has been submitted to the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Officials refused to disclose the value of the lease to The Cherokee Phoenix. The tribe has been working on the casino since at least the summer of 2013. Cherokee Nation Entertainment put out a request for proposal [DOC} for road work at the gaming site [PDF] last June. But Chief Bill John Baker didn't publicly disclose the project until a Cherokee Nation Council meeting on Monday. He didn't say when it would open but officials indicated that work would proceed quickly. The casino will be the ninth in the tribe's enterprise. Get the Story:
Cherokee casino planned for South Coffeyville (The Cherokee Phoenix 7/18)
Cherokees plan to build casino in South Coffeyville (The Tulsa World 7/18)
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