NIGC pressed to make ruling on Kialegee Tribal Town casino

Thursday, January 19, 2012  

Tracie Stevens, the chairwoman of the National Indian Gaming Commission, met with Rep. John Sullivan (R-Oklahoma), an opponent of the Kialegee Tribal Town casino, on Wednesday.

Stevens didn't comment on the substance of the meeting, which took place in Washington, D.C. But Sullivan claimed it went went well.

"I believe the best way to solve problems is to sit across the table and address tough issues head on -- Chairwoman Stevens listened to my legal arguments regarding the eligibility of this land for gaming, and she stressed the unusual nature of the Kialegee’s request," Sullivan said in a press release. "At the end of the day I am confident Chairwoman Stevens will reach a decision based on the letter of the law.”

The NIGC is preparing an Indian lands determination for the casino site. It's an restricted Indian allotment owned by two members of the Muscogee Nation.

According to the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, "Indian lands" means:

(A) all lands within the limits of any Indian reservation; and

(B) any lands title to which is either held in trust by the United States for the benefit of any Indian tribe or individual or held by any Indian tribe or individual subject to restriction by the United States against alienation and over which an Indian tribe exercises governmental power.

Get the Story:
Sullivan meets with Nation Indian Gaming Commission (Fox 23 News 11/18)
Mayor Says B. A. Has "No Legal Standing" With Kialegee Tribe (KTUL-TV 1/18)
Oklahoma Congressman Says Tribe Does Not Have Permit To Build Casino (News on 6 1/18)
BA Mayor: City And Creek Nation Agree To Share Information On Red Clay Casino (News on 6 1/18)
City requests help from AG regarding legality of casino (The Broken Arrow Ledger 1/18)
Sullivan, NIGC Chairwoman meet on Broken Arrow casino (KRMG-TV 1/19)
Sullivan: Proposed Kialegee casino won't pass legal muster (The Tulsa World 1/19)
Broken Arrow, Creek leaders to jointly watch Kialegee casino issue (The Tulsa World 1/19)
Battle against BA casino is ongoing (The Tulsa Beacon 1/19)
Leaders continue to fight planned Broken Arrow casino (KJRH-TV 1/19)

Related Stories:
Marcella Giles defends legality of Kialegee Tribal casino plan (1/18)
Kialegee Tribal Town to continue working on disputed casino (1/17)
Muscogee Nation to announce stance on Kialegee casino bid (1/16)
Editorial: Kialegee Tribal Town casino battle headed to court (1/16)
Opponents seek Congressional action over Kialegee casino (1/13)
Kialegee Tribal Town's casino known as far back in June 2010 (1/12)
Editorial: Put an end to Kialegee Tribal Town's plan for casino (1/12)
Public meeting scheduled over Kialegee Tribal Town's casino (1/11)
NIGC works on Indian land determination at Kialegee casino (1/10)
Muscogee Nation working on position on Kialegee casino plan (1/9)
Column: Love-hate relationship with Oklahoma tribal casinos (1/9)
Kialegee Tribal Town reports vandalism at site of new casino (1/6)
Oklahoma attorney general jumps into Kialegee casino dispute (1/5)
City wants Kialegee Tribal Town to stop working on casino site (1/4)
Editorial: Community says no to Kialegee Tribal Town's casino (1/4)
Kialegee Tribal Town stirring controversy with plan for casino (1/3)