Indian Gaming > Cowlitz Tribe hails a BIA land-into-trust decision

May 12, 2008

Cowlitz Tribe hails a BIA land-into-trust decision

The Cowlitz Tribe of Washington is welcoming a Bureau of Indian Affairs decision on a casino project in California.

The BIA last week approved a land-into-trust application for the Mechoopda Tribe. The tribe plans to build a small gaming facility on 631 acres.

Phil Harju, a council member for the Cowlitz Tribe, says the decision is favorable for landless tribes. The Cowlitz and the Mechoopda don't have existing reservations.

Harju also says the decision shows a tribe doesn't need an agreement with a local government to proceed with a casino. Officials in Clark County are asking the BIA if they can kill the project without an agreement.

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Casino decision in California could set a precedent for Cowlitz Tribe (The Columbian 5/10)