Fond du Lac Band won't confirm plan for site adjacent to casino

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

The Fond-du-Luth Casino in Duluth, Minnesota. Photo by The Howie Blog, Duluth's Finest News Source / Facebook

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Leaders of the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians won't say what they plan to do with a site adjacent to the tribe's casino in Duluth, Minnesota.

The Bureau of Indian Affairs has agreed to place the site of the historic Carter Hotel in trust, The Duluth News Tribune reported. The property is adjacent to the Fond-du-Luth Casino.

The tribe will be tearing down the building but isn't confirming anything beyond that. "I'm not prepared to talk about that at all," Chairman Wally Dupuis told the paper.

"We've had some discussion, but I'm really not at liberty to say what that's all about," Secretary/Treasurer Ferdinand Martineau added.

Indianz.Com SoundCloud: D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals Oral Arguments in City of Duluth v. National Indian Gaming Commission

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The site will be placed in trust by April 30 unless someone files an appeal, the paper reported. Previously, the city of Duluth tried to stop the tribe from pursuing the land-into-trust application but lost a decision in federal court.

The city also has lost a slew of other rulings related to a revenue-sharing agreement with the tribe. The latest round went before the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on April 7.

The National Indian Gaming Commission determined that the agreement violated the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. The tribe had already shared $75 million with the city by that time.

The tribe recently completed a $6.2 million renovation of the casino.

Get the Story:
Designation may allow Fond-du-Luth Casino's downtown footprint to grow (The Duluth News Tribune 4/27)

D.C. Federal Court Decision:
Duluth v. National Indian Gaming Commission (March 31, 2015) $P 8th Circuit Court of Appeals Decisions:
Duluth v. Fond Du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa (May 8, 2015)
City of Duluth v. Fond Du Lac Band (January 14, 2013)