Nuclear and Indigenous Items of Interest: BIA limits distance for casinos

Friday, July 25, 2008

BIA limits distance for casinos

BIA limits distance for casinos
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 07/18/2008 06:08:15 AM MDT

SANTA FE—The U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs has published a rule that says casinos should be located within 25 miles of a reservation headquarters.

But the rule has exceptions. Tribes may seek reservation status and permission to operate casinos on newly acquired land away from a reservation if tribes can show that a significant number of tribal members live nearby, can demonstrate a current connection to the property or if other tribal government facilities have been located on the land for at least two years before an application is filed for new reservation land.

In January, the U.S. Department of Interior turned down a request filed in 2004 by Jemez Pueblo to establish reservation land and build a casino near Anthony in southern New Mexico, 293 miles from the northern New Mexico pueblo.

The 1988 Indian Gaming Regulatory Act allows off-reservation gambling only on trust land controlled by a tribe. But the Interior Department said in its Jan. 4 letter that the proposed trust land was too far from the pueblo to provide jobs to tribal members.

The new rule on casinos is meant to resolve questions about when tribes qualify for exceptions to the federal law. It comes after a series of interim checklists published since 1994.

The Fort Sill Apache Tribe of Oklahoma has been trying to open a casino near Deming in southern New Mexico on land purchased by the tribe in 1998 and taken into trust by the Interior Department for the tribe in 2002.

Federal law prohibits gambling on Indian lands taken into trust after October 1988, except under certain conditions. Exceptions allow the Interior secretary to authorize tribes to open casinos away from historic reservation lands if, after consulting local and tribal officials and a state's governor, the BIA determines the casino would be in the tribe's best interest and would not be detrimental to the community where it is located.

New Mexico tribes operate casinos under compacts with the state and pay a share of the casino proceeds to it in exchange for exclusive rights to offer certain forms of gambling such as poker and roulette. Horse racing tracks have casinos but are limited to slot machines.

As of June, there were 423 Indian gambling operations in the country, operated by 225 tribes in 28 states, according to the National Indian Gaming Association. These include scores of smaller bingo halls as well as large casinos with slot machines.

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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com

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Public Statement by Corbin's Immediate Family

July 10, 2007 (TurtleIsland). Corbin Harney Spiritual Leader of the Western Shoshone Nation crossed over at 11:00 a.m. this morning in a house on a sacred mountain near Santa Rosa, CA (Turtle Island). He had dedicated his life to fighting the nuclear testing and dumping.

That battle claimed his life through cancer.

According to witnesses present, in the morning fog, the spirits of four Shoshone dog soldiers were outside on horseback before Corbin’s passing. But then one of the Shoshone present, Santiago Lozada, yelled “Tosawi Tosawi!” (White Knife). And then the fog shifted and there were thousands of spirits waiting.

Corbin passed peacefully at the end. He was only worried that he still had more to do. When he finally let go and went with the dog soldiers, Red Wolf Pope, grandson of Rolling Thunder, was present and sang him the Tosawi death song to call the dog soldiers to come take him home. Golden eagles continue to circle the house hours after his crossing.”

True to form Corbin joked around several days ago that he was going to go at 11:00, and kept his promise.

Over his lifetime, Corbin traveled around the world as a speaker, healer and spiritual leader with a profound spiritual and environmental message for all. He received numerous national and international awards and spoke before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.

Corbin also authored two books: “The Way It Is: One Water, One Air, One Earth” (Blue Dolphin Publishing, 1995) and a forthcoming book, “The Nature Way”. Numerous documentaries have been made about his work and message.

In 1994, Corbin established the Shundahai Network to work with people and organizations to respond to spiritual and environmental concerns on nuclear issues. He also established Poo Ha Bah, a native healing center located in Tecopa Springs, California. He will be missed but always honored for his work and dedication to traditional ways.

Corbin Harney is descended from generations of Newe (Shoshone) traditional healers and was always grateful for the many extraordinary teachers who shared their knowledge in his lifetime.

Corbin is survived by his daughter Reynaulda Taylor; granddaughters Ann Taylor and Nada Leno; grandsons Keith, Jon and Joel Leno and William Henry Taylor; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; and his sister Rosie Blossom’s family and many cousins and other family members as well as many, many friends around the world. Corbin was preceded in death by his mother, father, sister, grandparents, uncle, great granddaughter, cousins, and friends. A very special thanks to Patricia Davidson, Corbin’s caregiver in his final months; Dominic Daileda, Corbin’s friend and companion for his support and compassion in hard times, and the family of Dixie and Martin van der Kamp for opening up their home and their hearts to Corbin and his family and friends during his time of need.

Dates and times for services are being made with official announcement to follow. Three day services are planned at the home of Larson R. Bill, So Ho Bee – Newe Sogobe (Lee, Nevada –Western Shoshone Territory) with burial services at Battle Mountain Indian Community, Battle Mountain Nevada.