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Shinnecock Tribe Gets Boost in Plans to Build Casino

The July 21, 2023, By Bernard Lamoth

A small Long Island-based Indian tribe that has been seeking federal recognition since the 1970s recently has a little help on Wednesday from a sympathetic judge, who ordered the Interior Department to indicate when it might rule on a challenge to the tribe’s efforts. online casino news: Shinnecock Tribe Gets Boost in Plans to Build Casino

The Shinnecock Indians, based in Southampton, were told in June that the Interior department has approved the tribe’s application for federal recognition, pending a 30 day comment period. However, a Conneticut based group filed a challenge last week, saying that it was seeking to protect the 18,000 workers of the different casinos in the state, and that the Shinnecocks had failed to meet federal criteria for federal recognition.

Matthew Hennessey, executive director of the Connecticut Coalition for Gaming Jobs said that the Interior Department had failed to consider that the tribe has been receiving funding from a Detroit-based casino operator over the past several years.

"It is clear that this recognition process has been hijacked by wealthy casino developers solely for their benefit and as a result, a huge part of Connecticut's economy is at stake," Hennessy said in a statement. The group has not identified what businesses support the coalition.

The challenge puts the final recognition of the Shinnecocks, who have already stated that they plan to erect a casino in New York, on hold pending the Board of Indian Appeals’ ruling on the Connecticut group's challenge.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Kevin Mulry said he did not believe the appeals board was operating under any specific timetable for a decision.

But U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Bianco, noting the Shinnecocks' effort has been repeatedly delayed, said he expected the appeals board to commit to a date for a ruling by the end of the month. If that doesn't happen, Bianco said he would consider an application by the tribe for a judgment in favor of the Shinnecocks' application.

"Both sides have gone too far to have a delay," Bianco said to a courtroom jammed with more than 100 Shinnecock members, many of whom were dressed in traditional Indian clothing, including feathered headdresses.





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