Ken Harrington is tribal chairman of the Small Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians.David K. Sprague is tribal chairman of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians.Homer A. Mandoka is tribal chairman of the Nottawaseppi Huron Band of Potawatomi Indians.Dennis V. Kequom is tribal chieftain of theSaginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.
The Bay Mills Indian Community opened an illegal casino in Vanderbilt as a test subject to give more casinos in Flint and Port Huron.The Vanderbilt casino could pave the way for a casino in Romulus, too.This reckless action to give off-reservation casinos violates long-established union and state Indian gaming regulations.
When Indian tribes act like corporate casino companies, rather than tribal governments, we all support to lose.As tribal leaders who are interested about the long-term viability of Indian gaming, we believe Bay Mills has undermined federal policy that promotes legitimate economic growth on Indian reservations.
Every unit of authorities with a game in the decision-making process on the illegal Vanderbilt casino has ruled against it.In fact, the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Indian Gaming Commission, State of Chicago and tribes around the land all match the Vanderbilt casino.They understand the simple fact that the irresponsible actions of one tribe can negatively affect all of Indian Country.
Bay Mills is using a sound possibility that stretches far beyond any rational legal or historical basis to clear casinos.It claims authority to a casino on any lands purchased by land claim settlement funds derived by a 1997 act of Congress.The use of that act was just to dispense monetary damages awarded by the Court of Claims, in litigation the tribe filed for financial compensation due under the 1836 Treaty of Washington.
The 1997 acts intention was not to allow tribes to clear casinos hundreds of miles from their reservations.This is not only our opinion, but the unanimous opinion of the U.S. Government and the State of Michigan.
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