Tribal members file petition against Caesars Southern Indiana purchase

The group consists of 14 tribal members, including two sitting tribal council members and a former principal chief.

US.- A group of tribal members has filed a petition against the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians’ decision to purchase the Caesars South Indiana property.

The group, consisting of 14 tribal members including two sitting tribal council members and a former principal chief, hope to reverse the $250m purchase that the Cherokee Indians voted for on December 17.

The petition was put forward in a protest letter and proposed resolution which claims the decision violated the tribe’s Character and Governing Document.

It first claims the meeting on December 17 violated section 10 of the Charter which state’s only the principal chief can call such sessions in the case of an emergency.

The petition also claims the LLC board set up to oversee the purchase “is not controlled or in any way under the control of the EBCI and Tribal Council”, which breaches the Charter’s clause that only tribe members can deal with such issues.

The group also raised concerns over spending $250m (including $120m from tribal endowments) on the new gaming venture.

The resolution states “purchasing another gaming facility during a pandemic and with the knowledge that gaming facilities across the country are losing revenue is a fool’s errand.”

So far it is unclear when the petition will be heard, but in the past the Tribal Council has acknowledged such resolutions and voted whether or not to hear them during its regular session.

The next session was scheduled for January 7, but was postponed until January 14 due to the surge in coronavirus cases in Indiana.

The selling of Caesars Southern Indiana casino was directed by the Indiana Gaming Commission after the Eldorado and Caesars merger to prevent a market monopoly.