Wyandotte Nation off-reservation casino lawsuit dismissed

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Map shows approximate site of proposed Wyandotte Nation casino near Park City, Kansas. Image from Google Maps

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A federal judge dismissed the Wyandotte Nation off-reservation casino lawsuit on Monday.

The tribe wants to open a casino on a 10.5-acre site in Park City, Kansas. The property was acquired in connection with a land claim settlement act.

The law requires the Bureau of Indian Affairs to place such land in trust. But the agency failed to take action so the tribe filed a lawsuit after waiting more than five years for an answer.

Assistant Secretary Kevin Washburn, the head of the BIA, finally made a decision on July 3 and said the land wouldn't be acquired. He said it wasn't clear that land claim settlement funds were used to purchase the property.

But Washburn left the door open for the tribe to resubmit its land-into-trust application and provide more information. The dismissal of the case won't affect the process.

The tribe previously acquired a site in downtown Kansas City with land claim settlement funds. The property is in trust and houses the 7th Street Casino, a Class II facility, there.

The 7th Street Casino in downtown Kansas City, Kansas. The tribe acquired the land, also known as the Shriner Tract, with a land claim settlement fund. Photo from Facebook

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Get the Story:
Judge dismisses tribal lawsuit on land for casino (AP 7/22) $P Relevant Documents:
Order to Dismiss Case (July 21, 2014)
Judgment in Case (July 21, 2014)
Wyandotte Nation Response to Show Cause Order (July 18, 2014)
Kevin Washburn Letter to Wyandotte Nation (July 3, 2014) Related Stories:
Wyandotte Nation agrees with dismissal of casino site lawsuit (7/21)