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Native American Tribe Gets Federal Recognition, Casino Plans Next in Agenda

Posted on October 6th, 2010

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A small Native American tribe based in eastern Long Island which has been seeking recognition from the Federal government since the 1970s has finally gotten their wish. Before the end of last wee, the appeals panel of the Interior Department dismissed the last two challenges to the tribe’s application. The Interior Department’s decision declared the couple of challengers as lacking legal standing in the case. Thus, the Shinnecock Indians would not have any more blocks from its plans to build and operate a casino, the location of which has yet to be determined. Moreover, members of the tribe would now also be entitled to benefits from the federal government. The chairman of the board of trustees of the Shinnecock Indians, Randy King, said, “We’re very pleased that the judges have had the wisdom to see through the charade; clearly they have done that. Now the hard work of the nation starts: the work of building for the future. It’s going to be challenging, but exciting.”

The attorney who represented the Shinnecock Indians in their case for recognition, Mark Tilden, said that the ruling by the Interior Department’s Board of Indian Appeals will take effect immediately. He added, “Today is a very jubilant day for the nation. This ruling firmly establishes them among the family of Indian nations and tribes within the United States.” This ruling will name the Shinnecock Indians, based in Southampton, to be the 565th Native American tribe to be recognized formally by the government of the United States. In June, the Interior Department told the tribe that they have given their approval for the tribe’s application to be recognized by the federal government, with a comment period to last 30 days. During the comment period, two organizations filed papers indicating that they were opposed to the recognition of the tribe.

One group called themselves the Connecticut Coalition for Gaming Jobs and another is a part of the Montauk Indian tribe, a Native American tribe also based on the eastern portion of Long Island. The ruling on Friday by the Interior Department appeals panel has already proclaimed that both parties have no legal standing to file any challenge against the Interior Department’s decision. The ruling by the appeals panel, which was 13 pages long, claimed that the gaming coalition did not identify an individual or a business as a member, making no one in their challenge as an interested party in the ruling. A spokesperson for the Connecticut coalition, Christopher Cooper, said that his group was disappointed in the decision. He added, “Today’s federal action is a blow to the Connecticut casino industry and to the long-term economic health of Southeastern Connecticut. We will review today’s ruling and discuss with our members the appropriate next steps in this process.”

A representative of the coalition said last summer, when the ruling was first made known, that the Shinnecocks application should not be honored because the tribe has, years ago, received financial backing from a casino operator based in Michigan. Gateway Casino Resorts, a gaming operator based in Detroit, was a backer of a lobbying effort by the Shinnecocks, said to amount to $920,000 from the years 2004 and 2008. This data was derived from Center for Responsive Politics, a watchdog group looking into government affairs. As for Montauk faction, the panel pointed out that they do not have legal standing, as they also acknowledged a common ancestry with the Shinnecocks. The Montauk group was cannot be reached when the press tried to reach him by phone.

The source of their financing, according to representatives of the Shinnecocks, should not be an issued that would affect their quest for recognition. Recognition by the federal government is a requirement for any Native American tribe should they want to operate a casino. Once a tribe gains federal recognition, its members will also be eligible for other forms of aid like scholarships. King, after hearing that the challenges have been declined, said that as of the moment, the tribe has not yet selected a site for its future casino, although it is currently studying a number of possible locations. Some locations generating buzz are the site of the current Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale and Brookhaven – Calabro Airport in Shirley. HE also indicated that before any plans are finalized, an agreement must first be entred by the tribe and the state of New York. He adds, “Hopefully, the state of New York will entertain a meeting with the nation in the near future.”