Tribal Chairman Jeff Haozou (Deming) – The Oklahoma-based American Indian tribe which recently won recognition in New Mexico is suing a federal agency in hopes of reopening its casino in Luna County.
The Fort Sill Apache tribe filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington against the National Indian Gaming Commission.
The tribe closed its Apache Homelands Casino after the commission chairman ruled in 2009 that the tribe was illegally running bingo games at the now-inactive casino at Akela.
Tribal Chairman Jeff Haozous said they are asking the court to do what the commission promised to do five years ago – review their case in a reasonable amount of time.
Haozous added that his people have long experienced broken promises from the federal government.
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is the successor to the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache people who lived in southern New Mexico until 1886, when they were forcibly removed to Oklahoma by the U.S. Government.
Today, the 30-acre parcel of land at Akela in Luna County is the extent of the Fort Sill Apache’s restored and federally-recognized homeland.
The New Mexico Supreme Court in April ordered Gov. Susana Martinez to recognize the Fort Sill Apache as a New Mexico tribe.
The Fort Sill Apache tribe filed suit Monday in U.S. District Court in Washington against the National Indian Gaming Commission.
The tribe closed its Apache Homelands Casino after the commission chairman ruled in 2009 that the tribe was illegally running bingo games at the now-inactive casino at Akela.
Tribal Chairman Jeff Haozous said they are asking the court to do what the commission promised to do five years ago – review their case in a reasonable amount of time.
Haozous added that his people have long experienced broken promises from the federal government.
The Fort Sill Apache Tribe is the successor to the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apache people who lived in southern New Mexico until 1886, when they were forcibly removed to Oklahoma by the U.S. Government.
Today, the 30-acre parcel of land at Akela in Luna County is the extent of the Fort Sill Apache’s restored and federally-recognized homeland.
The New Mexico Supreme Court in April ordered Gov. Susana Martinez to recognize the Fort Sill Apache as a New Mexico tribe.
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