FT. SILL TRIBAL STATE RECOGNITION BEFORE NM SUPREME COURT TOMORROW
The Ft. Sill Apache tribe of Oklahoma will get its chance to make its case for state recognition before the New Mexico Supreme Court tomorrow, April 14, 2014. They have been trying to get that recognition from the last two governors, but to no avail.
The tribe is hoping their 30 acre lot astride Highway 10 in southern New Mexico would be a gambling magnet for interstate travelers. They might even get some patrons from Deming, about 30 miles west of their Akela Flats property.
Getting approval for off-reservation gambling (commonly called reservation-shopping) requires the approval of the governor of the state and the Department of the Interior of the federal government. The tribe seems to feel that state recognition of the tribe would make a lock for casino approval, but it is not 100% certain that would be the case. The Jemez Pueblo, a state recognized tribe, was not allowed to build a casino in southern New Mexico, mainly because of the large distance from its official tribal land to the proposed casino site. The Ft. Sill proposal would involve a distance that is even greater.
Regardless of tomorrow’s Supreme Court Decision, there will undoubtedly be appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court for a final verdict.
An article in the Santa Fe New Mexican gives more details on this story.
Stop Predatory Gambling New Mexico hopes the supremes prevent this dangerous precedent from occurring.
