Keweenaw Bay Indian Community voters reject new casino plan


The Ojibwa Casino in Baraga, Michigan. Photo from 500 Nations

Voters of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan rejected plans for a new casino in an election on Saturday.

Tribal members were asked to approve the purchase of the Baraga Lakeside Inn with the intent of building a new $31 million Ojibwa Casino at the site. Both issues were put on the ballot and were rejected by wide margins, according to the unofficial results on the tribe's Facebook page.

The plan had been controversial from the start. The purchase was approved a public meeting earlier this year and led to a lawsuit that caused a temporary tribal judicial crisis.

The tribal council ended up putting the project to a vote because the purchase wasn't completed before the hotel went into foreclosure. The plan now appears to be dead for good.

Get the Story:
KBIC Council Shake-Up; Casino Plan Rejected (The Keweenaw Report 12/15)
New casino, hotel shot down in KBIC election (ABC10 12/15)
KBIC votes down new casino; okays legal pot, same-sex marriage (The Houghton Daily Mining Gazette 12/14)

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KBIC judge dismisses lawsuit challenging plan for new casino (09/18)

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