Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement
The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians in California is facing yet another opponent in its bid for an off-reservation casino. The United Auburn Indian Community donated $100,000 to the campaign against the tribe's Class III gaming compact, The Sacramento Bee reported. The issue appears on the November ballot as Proposition 48. Up until now, the paper points out that all of the money for the campaign came from the Table Mountain Rancheria and investors in the casino owned by the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians. Those tribes operate gaming facilities that would face competition from the North Fork project. The Auburn Community also operates the Thunder Valley Casino Resort but it's more than 170 miles away from the North Fork site. The facility is located on land outside of the tribe's original reservation boundaries. The tribe also opposes an off-reservation casino for the Enterprise Rancheria. In related news, the Table Mountain Rancheria hired Ietan Consulting in Washington, D.C. The registration form states the firm will be lobbying on "Tribal Governmental issues" but The Hill newspaper notes that the tribe is fighting the North Fork Rancheria casino. A description of Proposition 48, from the California Secretary of State, follows:
Proposition 48 - Referendum to Overturn Indian Gaming CompactsGet the Story:
If signed by the required number of registered voters and timely filed with the Secretary of State, this petition will place on the statewide ballot a challenge to a state law previously approved by the Legislature and the Governor. The law must then be approved by a majority of voters at the next statewide election to go into effect. The law ratifies two gaming compacts (with the North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians, and the Wiyot Tribe); and it exempts execution of the compacts, certain projects, and intergovernmental agreements from the California Environmental Quality Act. (13-0007)
United Auburn tribe gives $100,000 to anti-casino compact campaign (The Sacramento Bee 9/23)
Bottom Line: NATIVE AMERICAN ISSUES (The Hill 9/22) Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria Federal Register Notices:
Indian Gaming (October 22, 2013)
Land Acquisitions; North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians of California (December 3, 2012)
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