FROM THE ARCHIVE

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In The Hoop
THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2002

Welcome to In The Hoop, Indianz.Com's occasional column about assorted Indian issues.

Like McCaleb for Chocolate
Now here's a tribal enterprise In The Hoop can get behind. The Chickasaw Nation has purchased 35 acres to build a $2 million chocolate plant and retail store, The Daily Oklahoman reports.

According to the paper, the tribe bought Bedre Chocolates two years ago. A web site, featuring chocolate Indian chief heads, has been launched and sales have increased 10 percent to 20 percent in the past year, the general manager said.

And because Assistant Secretary Neal McCaleb is a tribal member, we fully expect him to tout this venture soon. This will give him an excuse to stop promoting Krispy Kreme donuts, which was started by an Eastern Cherokee entrepreneur.

It's Your Problem, Now Where's Our Gas?
Are Kansas tribes backing away from a dispute involving their friends up in Winnebago, Nebraska? Depends on who you ask.

In case you didn't know, two trucks owned by the Winnebago Tribe were seized by Kansas officials this week because, heaven forbid, the state not get a piece of the action. A $1.25 million lawsuit has been filed to force the tribe to pay distribution taxes.

According to Winnebago CEO Lance Morgan, Kansas tribal leaders have been extremely supportive of the cause and are promising to help fight. The Iowa, Sac and Fox and Kickapoo tribes are involved.

But those close to the dispute say their attorneys are presenting a different picture. "Well, this is your issue," one was overheard saying yesterday when the issue was brought up.

Tribe Making Inroads
The Seminole Nation is slowly recovering from what seemed to be an all-out assault from the Department of Interior.

Cut off from federal funding due to a dispute over who really runs the Oklahoma tribe, some money has been restored as part of limited recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Now, the tribe has prevailed in a Class II v. Class III dispute with the National Indian Gaming Commission, tribal officials reported yesterday.

"Obviously, this is a very good decision for the Nation, and for Indian gaming," Qazi Alam, who oversees the tribe's casino operations, said in a statement. "We’re very pleased."

In Your Hoop
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