Indian Gaming > Lac du Flambeau Band fueds over gaming projects

April 25, 2008

Lac du Flambeau Band fueds over gaming projects

Members of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians are questioning the tribe's gaming projects.

The tribe operates the Lake of the Torches casino on its reservation. Some say the books don't add up.

The tribe also invested in the Grand Soleil Casino Natchez riverboat in Mississippi. Some say the tribe overextended its credit by getting into the deal.

Whatever the view, it's clear the tribe is facing some sort of financial crisis. The tribe has asked Congress for approval to mortgage fee lands in order to address some of the debt. A provision in H.R.5680 authorizes the land deal.

Elders who oppose the deal and the tribe's management practices staged an attempted takeover last month. The Ginew Grandmothers say it goes against tribal culture to sell or mortgage the land.

Get the Story:
Project tears at Wis. Indian tribe (The Natchez Democrat 4/25)
Ginew Grandmothers oppose bill to sell tribal lands (The Rhinelander Daily News 4/24)