Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe remains confident of approval of casino

Thursday, June 22, 2017  

The Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe expects to hear a decision on its long-awaited casino in Massachusetts by June 27.

"Once we have received a decision, I will immediately call for a General Membership meeting," Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a blog post on Wednesday.

The tribe started the land-into-trust process shortly after its federal recognition was finalized in 2007. The Bureau of Indian Affairs approved the application in September 2015 but opponents went to court to challenge it.

At issue is the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Carcieri v. Salazar. The court held that the BIA can place land into trust only for those tribes that were "under federal jurisdiction' in 1934 -- long before the Mashpees gained recognition.

The tribe broke ground on the $1 billion First Light Resort and Casino last year but stopped work due to the litigation. The facility is to be located in the city of Taunton, Massachusetts.

Read More on the Story:
Mashpee tribe's land in trust decision- including Taunton casino site - delayed (The Taunton Daily Gazette 6/21)
Department of Interior Delays Land Into Trust Decision (CapeCod.Com 6/21)

Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe still waits on casino ruling from Trump team (June 20, 2017)