Five tribes object to casino

Five tribes object to casino

Nov. 07--TRAVERSE CITY -- Two northern Michigan Indian tribes object to a casino an Upper Peninsula tribe recently opened in Vanderbilt.

Leelanau County-based Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians is among five Michigan Indian tribes who want state and federal officials to close the new Bay Mills Resort & Casinos' operation off I-75 in northern Otsego County. It opened Nov. 3.

"We are strongly opposed to the illegal gaming activity announced by the Bay Mills Indian Community ... this attempt to conduct Indian gaming in the absence of trust land is a serious violation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act and long-held federal Indian gaming policy," the tribes said in a joint statement that included the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians of Petoskey.

The casino includes about 40 slot machines in a 1,200-square-foot former welcome center for Treetops Resort, part of 47 acres the Bay Mills Indian Community purchased in August. The Bay Mills tribe, of Brimley, also operates two U.P. casinos.

"This is something we've been working on for a long time," Bay Mills tribal Chairman Jeff Parker said in a statement.

Opposing tribes contend the casino violates various state and federal laws, as well as state compacts on Indian-run gambling that require the consent of all Michigan Indian tribes to open a casino on non-reservation lands.

"We call on (authorities) to take swift and immediate action to close this illegal gaming operations, which threatens to undermine the significant public support for Indian gaming here within the State of Michigan and around the country," the tribes said in a statement issued by James Nye, a spokesman for Gun Lake Tribe of Pottawatomi Indians located south of Grand Rapids.

Staffers from Gov. Jennifer Granholm's and Attorney General Mike Cox's offices are reviewing the issue, and expect to meet with Bay Mills representatives next week. John Wernet, Granholm's deputy legal counsel, said she was "surprised and disappointed" with the tribe's decision to open a casino.

"We were very much taken by surprise," Wernet said. "We're kind of scrambling, to be honest."

Wernet said he's working with the state Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney's office on a coordinated response to the new casino. He's also spoken with other Michigan tribal leaders about their concerns and expects the dispute is headed to court.

"I would be very surprised if this situation does not result in litigation," he said. "We're dismayed that (Bay Mills) would open this facility without resolving those legal issues."