The casino site was placed in trust in 2002 and the tribe says it qualifies for an exception regarding newly acquired lands. The court hearing will address 2007 settlement that could lead the government to declare a reservation in New Mexico for the tribe.
The tribe has appealed a notice of violation issued by the NIGC. Chairman Jeff Houser is asking the agency to hold off on the matter until the courts can resolve the settlement issue. Relevant Documents:Jeff Houser to Phil Hogen (August 5, 2009) | Fort Sill Apache Letter (July 26, 2009) | Notice of Violation: Fort Sill Apache Tribe (July 21, 2009) | Settlement Agreement (March 8, 2007)