The Michigan
House Regulatory Reform Committee held a hearing on Friday to consider the off-reservation casino sought by the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians.
The tribe wants to build a casino at a former racetrack in Fruitport Township, about 80 miles from tribal headquarters. The effort has run into opposition from other tribes.
"We understand other casino interests do not want competition, but don't delay jobs for the Muskegon region; don't delay revenues to the state School Aid Fund," Robert Memberto, commerce director for the Little River Band, told the committee, The Muskegon Chronicle reported.
The Saginaw Chippewa Tribe,
the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of
Potawatomi Indians and the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of
Pottawatomi Indians testified against the casino.
They say the Little River Band violated the terms of the original Class III compact by not seeking approval from other tribes for an off-reservation casino.
"It is truly unfortunate that this governor, in the waning days of her administration, would encourage tribes to conduct off-reservation gaming in violation of the compacts that the tribes negotiated with the state," Saginaw Chippewa Chief Dennis Kequom said at the hearing, the paper reported.
The tribe renegotiated its compact to authorize the casino. But the Bureau of Indian Affairs has warned it might reject the deal because it refers to land that is not yet held in trust.
The tribe has acquired a total of 233 acres for the project. According to news reports, the tribe plans to file a land-into-trust application for 60 acres.
Get the Story:
Little River Band of Ottawa Indians accuses others of delaying action on Fruitport casino over fears of competition
(The Muskegon Chronicle 7/5)
Related Stories:
BIA official warns of rejection for
off-reservation gaming pact (6/28)
Hearing for Little River Band
off-reservation casino delayed (6/15)
Editorial: Don't
delay Little River Band off-reservation casino (6/9)
Letter: Little River off-reservation casino
good for economy (6/7)
Another
hearing scheduled on Little River Band casino plan (5/31)
Little River Band defends off-reservation
casino at hearing (5/27)
Bill
introduced on Little River Band off-reservation casino (4/14)
Editorial: Support Little River Band
off-reservation casino (3/29)
Little River Band wins support for two
casino agreements (3/23)
Little
River Band signs compact for off-reservation casino (3/22)
Casino Stalker | Compacts | Legislation
Little River Band blasts tribes for off-reservation casino battle
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Stay Connected
Contact Us
indianz@indianz.com202 630 8439 (THEZ)
Search
Top Indian Gaming Stories
Trending in Gaming
1 Catawba Nation continues work on controversial casino in North Carolina
2 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes move forward with casino expansion
3 Poarch Band of Creek Indians said to be on Trump's radar
4 Hopi Tribe officially joins Indian gaming industry with approved compact
5 Seminole Tribe paid just $50M for casino Donald Trump built for $1.2B
2 Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes move forward with casino expansion
3 Poarch Band of Creek Indians said to be on Trump's radar
4 Hopi Tribe officially joins Indian gaming industry with approved compact
5 Seminole Tribe paid just $50M for casino Donald Trump built for $1.2B
More Stories
Poarch Creeks donated $1.4M to Alabama primary candidates Federal Register: BIA approves Seminole Tribe gaming compact
Indian Gaming Archive