Tribes file suit against Department of Interior
The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations teamed up with Connecticut to file suit against the Department of Interior.
US.- The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribal Nations announced through a statement that they joined the State of Connecticut in order to file suit against the Department of Interior over the latter’s failure to consider approving mutually agreed upon amendments to their existing compacts with the state.
The tribes said that they’re suing in Federal District Court as they’re attempting to protect their compacts and better shared economic opportunities with the State of Connecticut. The tribes received legislative autorisation from Connecticut to operate a commercial gaming facility. Both the tribes and the State submitted to the Interior Department amendments to their existing compacts to clarify that the Tribes’ operation of a commercial gaming facility outside the Tribes’ Indian lands will not alter or compromise the Tribes’ existing compacts and revenue sharing arrangements with the State.
Ernie Stevens Jr, chairman of NIGA, said: “This is a novel and innovative economic approach to confronting the impacts of widespread State legalization of gaming. The Tribes and the State should have assurances from the Interior, which are mandated by law, that they have the right to pursue the best economic interests for their citizens.”
Before denying the amendments with Connecticut, the Department of Interior helped provide guidance and technical assistance to the tribes, and once they submitted the amendments for Interior approval, the Department returned them without taking official agency action as it is required under IGRA and the Administrative Procedures Act.
“The Mashantucket Pequot and Mohegan Tribes are two of the early leaders in Indian Gaming. They were part of an initial group of Tribes with some of the first compacts approved under IGRA. The Interior must provide a decision on their compact amendments and let the Tribes pursue this new economic initiative, which has full support from the State of Connecticut,” added Stevens.
NIGA said that the entity will continue monitoring the situation and provide members with updates on the situation of the court case.
