Seneca Nation pushes rejection of Catskills off-reservation casino

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

The Seneca Nation of New York is urging the Obama administration to reject an off-reservation casino for the Stockbridge Munsee Band of Mohican Indians of Wisconsin.

The Senecas say the Mohicans aren't entitled to a casino in the Catskills region of New York. The Senecas say the site is too far from the Mohicans' current headquarters.

"The ability of the [Stockbridge Munsee Band] to exercise jurisdiction over these lands is hampered by the sheer distance between Bowler, WI and Monticello, NY - in excess of 1,000 driving miles and several states away," Seneca Nation Robert Odawi Porter wrote in a letter to Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

The Stockbridge Munsee Band reached a land claim settlement and a gaming compact with former New York governor David Paterson late last year. New Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) says the deal is legal.

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Mohicans’ casino bid is opposed by Senecas (The Buffalo News 1/4)