Indian Gaming > Editorial: Negotiate compact with Gun Lake Tribe

May 03, 2006

Editorial: Negotiate compact with Gun Lake Tribe

"Gov. Jennifer Granholm needs to intensify talks with a western Michigan tribe that is awaiting federal approval for its reservation land. The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, has elaborate plans for a casino that will be ready to go as soon as Washington puts the requested acreage, off U.S. 131 near Wayland, into trust.

The holdup is a lawsuit filed in federal court in Washington, seeking to stop the land from being designated as a reservation. The last briefs in the case were filed Friday. Because this same court has ruled on a similar Michigan case -- and been upheld by the appeals court -- action could come sooner rather than later.

Based on that precedent, the Gun Lake Tribe will prevail. So unless the Granholm administration gets busy, the state will have no casino compact with the tribe even as it begins construction."

Get the Story:
Editorial: A Better Bet (The Detroit Free Press 5/3)