Little River Band off-reservation casino faces opposition from fellow tribes

Monday, March 18, 2019

A memorial to veterans of the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians at the Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. Photo: superior.monument

The Little River Band of Ottawa Indians continues to see opposition to a proposed off-reservation casino in Michigan.

The Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, all operate existing casinos. They say the Little River Band shouldn't get to open another one.

"We're trying to educate our employees that due to this proposed casino, there would be a substantial loss in our ability to provide jobs," James Nye, a spokesperson fro the opponents, told WWMT.

The Little River Band began pursuing the casino more than three years ago. The effort took a big step forward when the Bureau of Indian Affairs announced the release of a long-awaited draft environmental impact statement for the project in Fruitport Township in November.

But then came the government shutdown, which limited the ability of the BIA to accept and process comments. So public comments are now being accepted through April 17, according to a notice published in the Federal Register on Monday..

The tribe is pursuing the casino under the two-part determination provisions of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act. If the BIA approves, the state governor will have the final say on the project.

The only two-part determination casino in Michigan was approved for the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community back in 2000. Nationally, fewer than 10 tribes have completed both steps of the process, which typically takes several years to complete.

The March 18 notice announcing the reopening of the comment period was signed by Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney.

Read More on the Story

3 Michigan tribes oppose Little River Band tribe opening second casino near Muskegon (WWMT March 15, 2019)
Objecting to a Proposed Fruitport Casino (WHTC March 6, 2019)

Federal Register Notice

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Little River Band Trust Acquisition and Casino Project, Township of Fruitport, Muskegon County, Michigan (March 18, 2019)
Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Little River Band Trust Acquisition and Casino Project, Township of Fruitport, Muskegon County, Michigan (November 21, 2018)
Notice of Intent To Prepare an Environmental Impact Statement for the Proposed Little River Band of Ottawa Indians Fruitport Casino Project, Fruitport Township, Muskegon County, Michigan (September 21, 2015)