Tribe against tribe in off-reservation casino dispute in California


Artist's rendering of the proposed North Fork Rancheria casino. Image from North Fork Casino Environmental Impact Statement

It's tribe against tribe in a battle over an off-reservation casino in California.

The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians won federal and state approval to open a casino on its historical territory. Those dreams will be dashed if the Table Mountain Rancheria, the Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi Indians and the United Auburn Indian Community get their way at the polls next month.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s turned into tribe-against-tribe,” North Fork Vice Chair Maryanne McGovran told the Associated Press.

The three tribes and their backers have contributed more than $4 million to Proposition 48. They want voters to say "no" to the North Fork's Class III gaming compact.

In the history of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, no tribe in California has opened a casino under the two-part determination provisions of the law. The North Fork Rancheria and the Enterprise Rancheria were the first to complete both steps of the process but their projects remain in limbo due to opposition from rival tribes.

Get the Story:
Tribe’s casino plan to go before voters (AP 10/2)

California Court of Appeal Decision:
Picayune Rancheria v. Brown (September 24, 2014)

Bureau of Indian Affairs Documents:
Press Release | Fact Sheet: North Fork Rancheria Decision | Section 20 Determination: North Fork Rancheria

Related Stories
Opinion: North Fork Rancheria casino brings boost to economy (10/1)
Editorial: Vote yes to support North Fork Rancheria gaming deal (9/30)
Rival tribes raise $4M to block North Fork Rancheria casino bid (9/26)

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