Chairman Jeff Haozous of the Fort Sill Apache Tribe appears on New Mexico in Focus this evening to discuss gaming issues.
The tribe has a reservation in the southern part of New Mexico. Efforts to open a gaming facility there have been met with resistance from federal and state authorities.
The National Indian Gaming Commission has said the reservation can't be used for gaming under the Indian
Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe is trying to overturn that determination in federal court.
Meanwhile, the state has set up roadblocks. A year ago this month, the New Mexico
Supreme Court ordered Gov. Susana Martinez (R)
to deal with tribal leaders government-to-government basis after she refused to acknowledge their presence.
Martinez is now refusing to negotiate a Class III gaming compact, citing the NIGC determination. An agreement she reached with other tribes contains a provision that could hurt the Fort Sill Apache.
The program airs at 7pm Mountain time and will be posted on the New Mexico in Focus website.
Get the Story:
NMiF discusses prospective, new casino
(UNM News 4/2)
NIGC Indian Land Determinations:
May 19, 2008 |
April 30, 2009
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