A screenshot of the Aquinnah Gaming website.
A Massachusetts town wants to join a lawsuit that will determine whether the Aquinnah Wampanoag Tribe can open a casino. The tribe wants to open a Class II facility on its reservation on the island of Martha's Vineyard. The state, however, claims the tribe gave up its gaming rights under the Massachusetts Indian Land Claims Settlement Act of 1987. The town of Aquinnah and the Aquinnah/Gay Head Community Association were parties to the settlement. They say they should be a part of the lawsuit, which was filed by the state. In 2004, the Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled that the law subjects the tribe to state jurisdiction. But the lawsuit is being heard in federal court so there could be a different outcome. Get the Story:
Town on Martha's Vineyard seeks to join state's lawsuit against Indian tribe-proposed casino (AP 7/11)
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