Artist's rendering of the proposed West Valley Resort. Image from Tohono O'odham Nation
The Gila River Indian Community and the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community are vowing to stop the Tohono O'odham Nation from opening an off-reservation casino in Arizona. The two tribes have been fighting the proposed West Valley Resort since 2009. They have lost several rounds of litigation so far but they said they are considering a new challenge now that the Bureau of Indian Affairs has once again agreed to place the casino site in trust. Both tribes are also pushing Congress to pass H.R.1410, the Keep the Promise Act. The bill bars all forms of gaming on land placed in trust in the Phoenix area after April 9, 2013, a provision that would apply to the Tohono O'odham Nation's casino site. "The Tohono O’odham Nation has asserted a right to create three additional Indian reservations on county islands in Maricopa County to locate casinos," Salt River President Diane Enos said in a press release. "This is why many Valley mayors have been standing by tribes in asking for a resolution by Congress, fearful that their city is next." In press release, Gila River Gov. Gregory Mendoza said "Congress the best entity to decide this matter and uphold the will of Arizona's voters. We hope voters across the state will contact their members of Congress to weigh in on this matter." The BIA's land-into-trust decision does not address whether the tribe can use the site for the casino. The Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, generally, bars gaming on land acquired after 1988. But Section 20 of the law creates an exception for land acquired in connection with a land claim settlement. The tribe appears to qualify due to the Gila Bend Indian Reservation Lands Replacement Act of 1986. Both the Gila River and Salt River tribes operate casinos in the Phoenix area. Get the Story:
Decision leaves fight against Glendale casino facing uncertain future (The Glendale Daily News-Sun 7/4)
U.S. decision clears way for tribe to pursue Glendale casino (Capitol Media Services 7/4)
Ruling favors Tohono O'odham's bid for Glendale casino (The Arizona Republic 7/4)
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