Jeff Haozous AKELA FLATS, N.M. (AP) — The Fort Sill Apache tribe fighting to open a casino in Luna County is still awaiting word from the National Indian Gaming Commission on the future of the planned project.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Fort Sill Apache Chairman Jeff Haozous says the tribe will continue to push for gaming to create a hub of economic activity he believes would attract tribal members to their ancestral lands.
In December, the tribe filed a lawsuit against the Martinez administration, alleging it had refused to cooperate with the tribe in its requests for New Mexico recognition.
The tribe contends that the state last year ignored the Fort Sill Apache tribe's request to be invited to an important yearly state gathering of tribes and pueblos. Just before the June 2013 meeting, the tribe was told by the state it wasn't welcome to attend.
Haozous said those meetings are the start to the process of tribes laying out their infrastructure needs, which results in funding awards. He said the state also hadn't listed the Fort Sill Apache on a key listing that's important to state agencies as they interact with tribes and pueblos statewide.
Fort Sill Apache tribe launched paper bingo games at the Akela location in April 2009.
But the federal gaming commission issued a notice of violation to the tribe and demanded it halt gaming. The tribe appealed the decision.
The Las Cruces Sun-News reports that Fort Sill Apache Chairman Jeff Haozous says the tribe will continue to push for gaming to create a hub of economic activity he believes would attract tribal members to their ancestral lands.
In December, the tribe filed a lawsuit against the Martinez administration, alleging it had refused to cooperate with the tribe in its requests for New Mexico recognition.
The tribe contends that the state last year ignored the Fort Sill Apache tribe's request to be invited to an important yearly state gathering of tribes and pueblos. Just before the June 2013 meeting, the tribe was told by the state it wasn't welcome to attend.
Haozous said those meetings are the start to the process of tribes laying out their infrastructure needs, which results in funding awards. He said the state also hadn't listed the Fort Sill Apache on a key listing that's important to state agencies as they interact with tribes and pueblos statewide.
Fort Sill Apache tribe launched paper bingo games at the Akela location in April 2009.
But the federal gaming commission issued a notice of violation to the tribe and demanded it halt gaming. The tribe appealed the decision.
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