The Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians offered a settlement to Madera County in California in hopes of gaining support to reopen its shuttered casino.
The settlement would have established police and fire protection services at the Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino and addressed outstanding debt to the county, The Fresno Bee reported. But the board of supervisors said it won't enter into any agreements until the tribe resolves its leadership issues.
“No nontribal entity, whether it be federal, state or local, can authoritatively determine who the governing body of the Chukchansi tribe is,” the county said in a letter to the tribe, the Bee reported. “Only the tribe can do that. Until such time the tribe itself agrees on which council or other group constitutes its legal governing body, Madera County will not attempt to do so.”
Reggie Lewis, the chairman of a unity council on the reservation, believes the tribe is close to an agreement with the federal government to reopen the casino. The facility closed in October following a dispute between rival factions.
Lewis also said the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the National Indian Gaming Commission have recognized his council as the legitimate governing body on the reservation. He told the Bee that the tribe might ask the state of California for law enforcement services or create its own police department.
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Madera Co. supervisors reject Chukchansi request, goal is to reopen casino/hotel
(The Fresno Bee 6/17)
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