A federal judge yesterday ruled against the Seneca Nation's Buffalo Creek Casino, saying that casino gambling cannot legally take place on the nine-acre site in Buffalo, NY.
According to the Buffalo News, U.S. District Judge William M. Skretny, in a 127-page decision, vacated the earlier decision by the commissioner of the National Indian Gaming Commission to allow gambling.
It was not immediately clear whether Skretny's ruling will halt construction on the $333 million permanent casino, but it is clear that the temporary casino no longer has the legal right to operate.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Government and NGS Sign Geotourism Agreement
Five U.S. governmental agencies, including the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and the National Geographic Society have signed an agreement promoting geotourism. The agreement was signed Tuesday in Washington, DC, with the goal of preserving and enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of the nation’s public lands and waters.
Geotourism refers to tourism that helps sustain or enhance the geographical character of a place -- its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and well-being of its residents. Read more about it here.
Geotourism refers to tourism that helps sustain or enhance the geographical character of a place -- its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage and well-being of its residents. Read more about it here.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ Project Sunrise Set to Open Next Week
Project Sunrise, Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs’ $208 million Phase II casino and entertainment complex, is scheduled to open to the public following a grand opening ceremony on July 17.
The grand opening date is pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board following a test night scheduled for July 15.
The grand opening date is pending approval from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board following a test night scheduled for July 15.
Groundbreaking for the 300,000 square-foot complex, owned and operated by the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority and the state’s first casino, occurred in May 2007. The announced opening date is two weeks ahead of schedule.
Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs President and CEO Robert J. Soper said, “Project Sunrise has been designed to celebrate the people, history and natural resources of northeastern Pennsylvania."
The new Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs will feature 2,500 slot machines and electronic virtual table games. It also will offer nationally recognized restaurants, including Ruth's Chris Steak House and the Rustic Kitchen Bistro and Bar, and 7,000 square feet of retail space, with shops such as Brookstone, Marshall Rousso and Misura.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Ft. Peck Tribes Ask Congress to Investigate IHS
After declaring a health care emergency, the Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board has asked Congress to investigate the delivery of medical care by the Indian Health Service on the Montana reservation, The Associated Press reported this morning.
"The crisis we're talking about has been building for years due to a lack of funding and a lack of true leadership in the IHS," tribal Medical Director James Melbourne was quoted as saying in the AP report.
The tribes have spent $16,000 to $20,000 on kidney dialysis machines. Last week, Melbourne had to find $2,000 to buy a coloscope, needed to examine sexually abused children. Other equipment is still needed, including ultrasound machines. But Melbourne said IHS will not pay for any of the equipment because it is not a priority.
In addition to the equipment, the tribes’ health department has staff shortages and lacks vital services, such as addiction counseling and nutrition services.
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Tribal Executive Board voted for a comprehensive review of the IHS, as it relates to the reservation, and to start gathering evidence to take over portions of it.
"The crisis we're talking about has been building for years due to a lack of funding and a lack of true leadership in the IHS," tribal Medical Director James Melbourne was quoted as saying in the AP report.
The tribes have spent $16,000 to $20,000 on kidney dialysis machines. Last week, Melbourne had to find $2,000 to buy a coloscope, needed to examine sexually abused children. Other equipment is still needed, including ultrasound machines. But Melbourne said IHS will not pay for any of the equipment because it is not a priority.
In addition to the equipment, the tribes’ health department has staff shortages and lacks vital services, such as addiction counseling and nutrition services.
At its Jan. 28 meeting, the Tribal Executive Board voted for a comprehensive review of the IHS, as it relates to the reservation, and to start gathering evidence to take over portions of it.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Dorgan Honored for Extending Special Diabetes Program
The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International, the American Diabetes Association and the National Indian Health Board have honored Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., with the 2008 Congressional Leadership Award for his efforts in extending the Special Diabetes Program (SDP) in Congress.The SDP has two programs: the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research, which funds Type 1 Diabetes research through the National Institutes of Health, and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), which funds prevention, treatment and education programs for Native Americans with Type 2 Diabetes through the Indian Health Service.
More than 60,000 people have been involved in clinical research supported by the Special Statutory Funding Program for Type 1 Diabetes Research program, and the SDPI has funded 66 prevention demonstration projects and over 300 tribal community-directed programs.
Dorgan has authored legislation to extend the SDP for an additional five years, and the bill currently has 48 co-sponsors in the Senate. As chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, he has also worked to raise awareness about the significant progress that has been made in tribal communities struggling with diabetes.
"I am deeply honored by this award from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, and the other organizations represented here today, and I plan to keep pushing for policies that will support innovative ways to deal with this disease," Dorgan said in a press statement. "Diabetes is a serious problem that hits our American Indian communities particularly hard. It's important that we find ways to educate the public about how to prevent diabetes and how to treat it effectively once they have been diagnosed."
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Adam Walsh Sex Offender Guidelines Finalized
The Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, has announced final guidelines for Title I of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act of 2006, the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (SORNA). The guidelines provide necessary tools for states and tribes to incorporate SORNA minimum requirements into their sex offender registration and notification programs.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Sedgwick of the OJP said, “These guidelines will provide valuable implementation strategies to enhance their abilities to respond to crimes against children and adults and prevent sex offenders who have been released back into the community from victimizing others.”
The DOJ published the proposed guidelines for SORNA in the Federal Register on May 30, 2007, which were available for public comment until Aug. 1, 2007. More than 275 comments were received from criminal justice professionals, sex offender registration officials, state and local governments, tribal communities, Congress and the general public.
The final guidelines provide general principles for jurisdictions implementing SORNA and clarification on several topics, such as the treatment of juveniles, retroactivity, tribal issues, information subject to Web site posting and duration of registration.
Acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Sedgwick of the OJP said, “These guidelines will provide valuable implementation strategies to enhance their abilities to respond to crimes against children and adults and prevent sex offenders who have been released back into the community from victimizing others.”
The DOJ published the proposed guidelines for SORNA in the Federal Register on May 30, 2007, which were available for public comment until Aug. 1, 2007. More than 275 comments were received from criminal justice professionals, sex offender registration officials, state and local governments, tribal communities, Congress and the general public.
The final guidelines provide general principles for jurisdictions implementing SORNA and clarification on several topics, such as the treatment of juveniles, retroactivity, tribal issues, information subject to Web site posting and duration of registration.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Court Says State Cannot Intrude on Quinalt Jurisdiction
In a case involving Public Law 280, a Washington state appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling that the state cannot intrude on the Quinault Tribe's criminal jurisdiction on tribal land, reports Indian Country Today. The Washington Court of Appeals Division II panel opinion was issued June 3.
The case involves William Peter Pink, an enrolled tribal member who was arrested by Grays Harbor County sheriff's deputies in December 2006 for unlawful possession of a firearm during a search of a vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Pink was a passenger in a car that was stopped for a minor traffic violation - having a defective muffler and a cracked windshield - on a public road within the boundaries of the Quinault reservation. Read more about it here.
The case involves William Peter Pink, an enrolled tribal member who was arrested by Grays Harbor County sheriff's deputies in December 2006 for unlawful possession of a firearm during a search of a vehicle. At the time of his arrest, Pink was a passenger in a car that was stopped for a minor traffic violation - having a defective muffler and a cracked windshield - on a public road within the boundaries of the Quinault reservation. Read more about it here.
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