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FEBRUARY 21, 2001

After surviving a four-year court battle, controversial Congressional hearings, the objections of wealthy gaming tribes, and an ever changing political landscape, three Ojibwe tribes in Wisconsin on Tuesday finally gained approval from the Bureau of Indian Affairs to take 55 acres of land into trust for an off-reservation casino in Hudson.

The reaction of Gaiashkibos, Chairman of the Lac Courte Oreilles Band of Lake Superior Ojibwe? "We are pleased."

As well he should be. Along with the Red Cliff and Mole Lake Ojibwe bands, Gaiashkibos has fought heavily for a casino the three impoverished tribes see as a ticket to a better economic future.

Their next obstacle? Governor Scott McCallum.

For all the hard work the tribes and their Florida developer have put in since the Department of Interior first rejected their proposal in 1995, it may all come undone with the actions of one man. McCallum, who replaced Tommy Thompson when he left to join President George W. Bush's Cabinet, said he opposes the expansion of gaming in his state and has vowed to veto the proposal.

The good news? It was the first major Interior decision under recently confirmed Secretary Gale Norton.

But she may soon follow in the footsteps of her predecessor and wind up in court. Fearing competition from another casino, the St. Croix Ojibwe Tribe of Wisconsin and the Prairie Island Mdewakanton Community of Minnesota have already filed suit against the Interior.

Still, the way the decision plays out in the coming weeks probably won't hold a candle to the fire former Secretary Bruce Babbitt endured during his tenure at the Interior. Although the Department's cited lack of local support as a reason for denying the proposal back in 1995, the lobbying efforts and campaign contributions of wealthy tribes opposed to it were so great that the House Committee on Government Reform held Congressional hearings on the matter.

Opposing tribes contributed at least $356,250 to the Democratic party and its candidates, the Committee reported. They also said a pattern exists within the Interior whereby tribes make campaign contributions and receive favorable decisions. Yet after 18 months and a $5.8 million investigation, Independent Counsel Carol Elder Bruce found no evidence to indict Babbitt.

As for the tribes, a 1995 lawsuit they filed eventually resulted in a 1999 settlement with the Department. The BIA agreed to reconsider their proposal based only on the facts on the record as of July 1995, supplemented by newer environmental studies.

The tribes have offered between $72 million and $80 million over eight years to various local governments in and around Hudson. They plan to turn an existing dog track into a casino with about 1,500 slot machines.

Related Stories:
Tribes have hope despite new Governor (Money Matters 02/12)
Thompson won't approve casino (Money Matters 01/30)
Tribe seeks to block casino (Money Matters 01/26)
Babbitt apologized to McCain (The Talking Circle 09/05)
Babbitt casino report released (Money Matters 08/23)
Tribe suing DOI over casino (Tribal Law 7/18)
Tribe can't interfere with casino (Tribal Law 06/08)