The Mashpee Wampanoag
Tribe of Massachusetts is planning to break ground on its long-awaited casino in the spring.
The First
Light Resort and Casino will be located on about 151 acres in the city of Taunton. The land -- along with another 170 acres in Mashpee, the location of tribal headquarters -- is officially a reservation as of today.
“After decades of painstaking work, we are overjoyed the government of the United States has officially issued this reservation proclamation, as we are witnessing the re-birth of our nation,” Chairman Cedric Cromwell said in a press release.
The tribe first announced plans for the casino in August 2007. Despite a change in leadership, gaming sites and partners, tribal leaders remained focus on the land-into-trust application, which the Bureau of Indian Affairs approved in September 2015. The land was declared a reservation on December 30, 2015, according to a notice that was published in today's issue of the Federal Register.
The tribe has said it will invest about $500 million in the casino. An opening date has not been announced.
Get the Story:
Mashpee tribe's federal status becomes official today
(The Cape Cod Times 1/8)
Federal Government Designates Mashpee Wampanoag Tribal Lands As A Reservation
(CapeCod.com 1/8)
Feds Opens Door for Wampanoags to Build Casino
(AP 1/8)
Tribe Land Declared A Reservation
(Cape News 1/8)
$P
Federal Register Notices:
Proclaiming
Certain Lands as Reservation for the Mashpee Wampanoag (January 8, 2016)
Land
Acquisitions; Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (September 25, 2015)
Final
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Fee-to-Trust Transfer of
Property and Subsequent Development of a Resort/Hotel and Ancillary Facilities
in the City of Taunton, MA and Tribal Government Facilities in the Town of
Mashpee, MA by the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (September 5, 2014)
Land
Acquisitions: Appeals of Land Acquisition Decisions (November 13, 2013)
Relevant Documents:
Chairman
Cedric Cromwell Announcement | Mashpee Wampanoag Trbe Press
Release | Bureau of
Indian Affairs Press Release | Assistant
Secretary Kevin Washburn Letter to Chairman Cedric Cromwell | Record
of Decision | Attachment
I - Legal Descriptions | Attachment
II - Maps | Attachment
III - Mitigation Monitoring and Enforcement Plan | Attachment
IV - Response to Comments on the Final Environmental Impact Statement
DOI Solicitor Opinion:
M-37029: The
Meaning of "Under Federal Jurisdiction" for Purposes of the Indian
Reorganization Act (March 12, 2014)
Related Stories:
BIA formally declares Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's
reservation (1/7)
Foes
promise suit over Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's casino (12/18)
Non-Indian
casino in Massachusetts already sees drop in revenue (12/09)
Opinion:
Don't break promise to Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe (11/27)
Editorial:
Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe moves ahead with casino (11/18)
Mashpee
Wampanoag Tribe casino site finally placed in trust (11/13)