Chairman John P. Warren of the Pokagon Band of
Potawatomi Indians speaks at a news conference in South Bend, Indiana, on November 29, 2016. Photo by Four Winds Field
The Pokagon Band of
Potawatomi Indians is celebrating major milestones as it moves forward with a casino in Indiana.
The tribe won approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to open a casino in South Bend. The land-into-trust
application covers a 166-acre site in the city, which is part of its ancestral homeland.
"For the first time in 200 years, Indiana has Indian Country in it again," Chairman John P. Warren said at a press conference on Tuesday, The South Bend Tribune reported.
Additionally, the BIA approved the tribe's liquor ordinance in Indiana, according to a notice that was published in the Federal Register on Tuesday. The ordinance becomes effective once the land in South Bend is formally placed in trust.
The tribe operates three casinos in Michigan under the Four Winds name. The facility in South Bend is seen as a $400 million project with a hotel, housing and other developments.
Read More on the Story:
Pokagon Band says casino, village project in South Bend will restore its sovereign land
(The South Bend Tribune 11/29)
South Bend casino project could bring jobs, visitors and development
(The South Bend Tribune 11/29)
South Bend Casino Puts Gambling Next to America’s Most Distinguished Catholic University
(Casino.Org 11/28)
Federal Register Notices:
Pokagon
Band of Potawatomi Indians, Michigan and Indiana (November 29, 2016)
Draft
Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon Band of Potawatomi
Indians Fee-to-Trust Transfer for Tribal Village and Casino, City of South Bend,
St. Joseph County, Indiana (March 12, 2015)
Notice
of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Pokagon
Band Tribal Village Fee-to-Trust Acquisition and Casino Project in the City of
South Bend, St. Joseph County, IN (August 24, 2012)
Related Stories:
Pokagon
Band secures approval to restore homeland in Indiana (11/23)
Pokagon
Band sees major progress on casino project in Indiana (06/21)
Pokagon
Band touts $248M in economic impacts fueled by gaming enterprise (04/25)
Pokagon
Band wins local support for Indiana casino agreement (04/12)
Pokagon Band
agrees to share revenues from casino in Indiana (4/11)
Pokagon
Band reaches two agreements for casino site in Indiana (03/23)
Pokagon
Band sees opposition to work at casino site in Indiana (01/22)
Pokagon
Band aims to build police station at Indiana casino site (01/07)
Pokagon
Band faces hurdles in plan to develop casino in Indiana (05/27)
Pokagon Band
questions legality of new gaming law in Indiana (5/14)
Dennis
Whittlesey: Shocking proposals to halt tribal gaming (05/11)
Opinion:
Pokagon Band casino shouldn't stir fears in Indiana (05/08)
Lawmaker
slammed for comment about Pokagon Band casino bid (05/01)
Gaming bill
opposed by Pokagon Band sent to Indiana governor (4/30)
Indiana
lawmakers advance bill against Pokagon Band's casino (4/29)
Indiana
lawmakers ask Congress to stop Pokagon Band casino (4/28)